ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 21 and 22 December 2004; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary and I represented the UK at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 21–22 December 2004. Fisheries Ministers from Scotland and Northern Ireland were also present.
	The main items for decision were on fisheries. The Council agreed on Total Allowable Catches and quotas for 2005 and on related measures. Much of the discussion at Council centred on the need for further measures to protect depleted cod stocks.
	The Commission had proposed a series of closed areas in the North Sea. Ministers, however, were not convinced of the case for the Commission's proposal which would have significant impact on the fishing industry but without clear benefit for the North Sea cod stock. The UK believes that closed areas have a part to play in fisheries management and we indicated at the Council that we would be willing to consider more radical measures, including closed areas, if the scientific advice on the state of stocks justified such an approach.
	The Council agreed a general reduction in fishing days within the North Sea, west of Scotland, and Eastern Channel to protect cod stocks. However, in recognition of the role that large mesh gear plays in reducing catches of juvenile fish, the Council agreed that fishermen using mesh of 120 mm mesh should receive an extra day, subject to administrative sanctions for infringements. The UK's mixed cod/haddock/whiting fleet already uses 120 mm and will, therefore continue to be able to fish for 15 days per month as soon as the new arrangements are in place.
	The Council also agreed to implement UK proposals for improved controls to ensure that illegal landings do not undermine cod recovery and for scientific monitoring of discarding. The European Commission will present detailed proposals to improve control and enforcement in early 2005.
	The Council agreed to apply days at sea limits to the western Channel to protect the sole stock. Fishermen fishing with beam trawls or fixed nets will be restricted to 20 days fishing in the area per month.
	Ministers agreed that the closure to demersal fishing of an area to the West of Scotland (the 'windsock' closure) should continue in the same form as in 2004. For the sixth successive year, there will be a closure on the western Irish Sea in the spring to protect the spawning stock. The UK reached a bilateral agreement with Ireland to take forward a review of the Irish Sea closure with industry participation. Fishermen who spend most of their time in the Irish Sea will receive one additional fishing day (instead of two in 2004) in recognition of the reduction in effort as a result of the closure. The Council also agreed to implement a proposal from the UK, French and Irish industries for a cod spawning closure in the area between south west England and Ireland from January to March. However at the request of Belgium, there will be a derogation for beam trawlers in January.
	The UK secured at the Council a number of increases in Total Allowable Catches in commercially important stocks where there was scientific evidence that previous TACs were out of line with the real abundance of the stocks. This meant that fishermen were having to unnecessarily discard catches with no conservation benefit. The stocks concerned were:
	
		
			  2005 TAC (tonnes) Percentage increase 
		
		
			 Western Channel sole 865 188 
			 Western monkfish 25,082 20 
			 Monkfish (North Sea/west of Scotland) (1)15,000 — 
			 West of Scotland nephrops 12,700 12 
			 Irish Sea nephrops 19,544 12 
		
	
	(1) With the prospect of a further increase with agreement on management measures early in 2005.
	The Council also reached agreement on cuts in fishing effort and quotas on deep sea stocks. A closed area will be introduced to protect orange roughy which is thought to be particularly at risk. There will be a review of management arrangements for deep sea stocks in 2005.
	The European Commission presented a Communication on simplification of the Common Fisheries Policy and this will be followed by an action plan next year.
	On agriculture, the Presidency reported on two conferences that had considered the handling of animal disease outbreaks, including zoonoses (animal diseases transmissible to humans), from both the financial and disease control angles. The Commission indicated that it would be taking forward work in this area with a view to developing a more strategic approach to animal health. I strongly supported this initiative.
	The Council held an orientation debate on measures to deal with illegally logged timber imports. I joined a number of delegations in welcoming progress in this area while noting that further work to counter attempts at circumvention of EU controls was needed. I also welcomed the Commission's intention to work closely with interested NGOs on this subject.
	The Council endorsed conclusions on the application of cross compliance conditions in the reformed CAP. Member states agreed to review the working of these provisions in the light of further experience.
	The Agriculture Commissioner informed the Council of her intention to prepare a paper reflecting on the possibilities for further simplification of the CAP; it will come to the Council towards the end of 2005.
	Under other business, Hungary, supported by several producing member states, expressed concern about the protection of geographical indications for wine in the EU/Australia wine agreement.
	Sweden sought views from the Commission on its plans for proposals to improve the welfare of farmed livestock and the Commission indicated that further work on pig welfare would be undertaken in 2005 and proposals on broiler and laying hen welfare were also likely.
	Over lunch, Ministers discussed the current state of play in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations and Commissioner Fischer Boel reported on her recent contacts with other parties in Geneva.

Air Pollution

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received suggesting a relationship between cancer in under-16s and air pollution.

Alun Michael: The Department has not received any representations on this subject in the recent past.
	However, we are aware that a report has recently been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggesting such a relationship. The report evaluated childhood cancer by linking residence and migration of children who had fatal tumours (who died 1966–80) with emission data from the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) data for 2001.
	The Department of Health has advised as follows:
	"The Committee on Carcinogenicity (COG) set up a review of cancer in children at its November 2004 meeting. The Committee has recommended a number of follow-up pieces of work which includes a review of published papers on environmental exposures and childhood leukaemia. The new paper from Professor Knox on childhood leukaemia and air pollutants will be considered as part of this review."
	One of the issues the COC will need to consider is the validity of the assessment of exposure for children who died in 1966–80 based on emission maps for the year 2001. The magnitude and location of pollution sources is likely to have changed dramatically between these two periods. For instance, emissions of the two pollutants suggested as posing the greatest risk, 1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide, declined by 64 per cent. and 50 per cent. respectively between 1990 and 2001.

Air Pollution

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's strategy is for reducing (a) air pollution and (b) the impact of air pollution on (i) the environment and (ii) human health.

Alun Michael: The Government's policies on improving air quality are set out in detail in the "Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland", published in January 2000 and Addendum, published in February 2003. The Strategy includes objectives for the main pollutants of concern to protect people's health and ecosystems and explains the measures that are in place to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants from all sectors, including road transport and industry. Copies are available via the Department's website at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality.

Animal Welfare Bill

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce legislation to (a) stop animal abuse and (b) improve the conditions in which animals are transported.

Ben Bradshaw: The intention to include an Animal Welfare Bill in the Government's legislative programme was announced in the Queen's Speech. The Bill will provide new protection for captive and domestic animals in England and Wales, and will replace the current legislation—the Protection of Animals Act 1911—which already provides substantial protection against animal abuse.
	New EU rules on welfare in transport have recently been published—Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97, Official Journal L 3/1–44 of 5 January 2005.
	The UK supported this new Regulation as it contains much to help improve animal welfare in transport, such as improved enforcement of the rules, better protection for horses and new training and authorisation procedures for drivers. The EU Regulation applies from January 2007; with competence certification for drivers and attendants taking effect from January 2008. Until then, we will continue to ensure that animals are transported strictly in accordance with the current rules.

Animal Welfare Bill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the Animal Welfare Bill.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The Animal Welfare Bill was included in the Queen's Speech and will be introduced and published when the legislative timetable permits.

Beef Exports

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of exports of British beef to (a) France, (b) Italy and (c) Germany was in each of the last two years.

Alun Michael: The following table shows the value of total exports from the UK of beef to France, Italy and Germany for the years 2002 and 2003. This will include re-exports of imported beef. The Overseas Trade Statistics do not separately identify exports of British beef.
	
		UK exports of beef to France, Italy and Germany 2002–03 -- £ million
		
			 Country 2002 2003 Total 
		
		
			 France 1.2 0.6 1.8 
			 Italy 0.5 1.4 1.9 
			 Germany 2.4 2.1 4.6 
			 Total 4.1 4.2 8.3 
		
	
	Note:
	Totals may not match sum of parts due to rounding.
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise. Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, Defra

Bogs

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to complete the UK network of Natura 2000 sites for the habitat type Degraded Raised Bogs Still Capable of Natural Regeneration.

Ben Bradshaw: In August 2000 Defra and its Country Agencies initiated a public consultation on 5 sites, chosen for their representation of
	"degraded raised bogs capable of natural restoration",
	to be considered as UK contributions to the Natura 2000 network. Three of these sites have now been adopted by the European Commission as Sites of Community Importance.
	Consultations on two remaining sites, Bolton Fell Moss and Solway Moss, are still ongoing in light of scientific objections raised about their candidature. A decision will be made regarding the designation of these sites following the outcome of these consultations and bilateral biogeographic discussions with the European Commission regarding the sufficiency of site lists for this habitat and others.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter dated 10 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Carol Denis.

Alun Michael: The Department has no record of the correspondence referred to by the right hon. Member. If he would like to supply me with a copy I shall ensure he receives a response.

Country Shows

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what rural proofing was made of Home Office Circular No. 13/2000 and its effect upon country shows.

Alun Michael: Home Office Circular No. 13/2000 was published before November 2000 when the Government published the Rural White Paper 2000 which announced our commitment to rural proof all future policy programmes and initiatives.

Country Shows

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the Country Landowners Association, (b) the Historic Houses Association and (c) the National Farmers' Union about the effects of Home Office Circular 13/2000 on country shows.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and members of the ministerial team meet these organisations and many other on a variety of issues but this issue has not been raised with us formally. Comments made by the CLA have been brought to my attention by one Government MP and one correspondent from the West Midlands. I have informed them both that my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Sport and Tourism and his officials have met representatives from the CLA, the Historic Houses Association and the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations and have concluded that the proposed fees for large events should not cause a problem for country shows. I understand that the CLA has now made a statement to that effect.

Criminal Offences

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by her Department in the (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 Session, broken down by Act.

Alun Michael: The following Acts created criminal offences in the 2002–03 Session;
	The Animal Health Act 2002 (c.42) created the offence of deliberately infecting an animal with any one of 15 diseases specified in the Act, including foot and mouth. The schedule created an offence of failing to comply with a restriction notice preventing the use for breeding of sheep that are of a genotype that is susceptible to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The Act also created a number of offences of obstructing or failing to assist inspectors carrying out duties under the Act.
	The Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 (c.33) provided powers under part 1 to make offences by regulation for breach of the scheme relating to the borrowing, banking, trading or transfer of landfill allowances.
	The Water Act 2003 (c.37) made it an offence under part 1 to fail to comply with a notice served by the Environment Agency requiring work to be carried out on facilities for impounding water or a licence application to be made for unlicensed impounding works.
	In addition, where abstraction or impounding takes place without a licence or does not comply with the terms of a licence, the Act made it an offence to fail to comply with an enforcement notice issued by the Environment Agency.
	Part 2 created the offence of introducing water to or supplying water from a water undertaker's supply system without being a water undertaker or a licensed supply person.
	Under part 3 it is an offence for an owner or manager of a large raised reservoir to fail to prepare a flood plan when required to do so. Part 3 also extended the application of the offence of supplying water unfit for human consumption to apply to persons including employees of the water undertaker and to self-employed people involved with the supply of that water.
	During the 2003–04 Session the following Acts created criminal offences:
	The Highways (Obstruction by Body Corporate) Act 2004 (c.29) extended the offence of obstructing a highway under the Highways Act 1980 so that the directors, managers and other officers of a guilty company may also be found guilty of the obstruction.
	The Hunting Act 2004 (c.37) made it an offence under part 1 to hunt a wild mammal with a dog, except in some circumstances such as where the dog is only being used for stalking and flushing out, or to participate in, attend or knowingly facilitate a hare coursing event.
	Part 1 also makes it an offence for the owner of a dog to permit it to be used for hunting or hare coursing. Additionally, it made it an offence for the owner of land to allow the land to be entered or used for hunting or hare coursing.

Departmental Advertising

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are used by her Department to determine (a) on which satellite television stations advertisements on behalf of her Department or its agencies are screened and (b) the frequency of screenings of advertisements.

Alun Michael: The criteria used for all campaigns are individually assessed to take into account the campaign objectives, the target audience and any specific regional factors.
	The media buyers secure the most effective advertising slots to match the brief at the most competitive prices within the budget allocated.
	Frequency of screening will depend on a consideration of how many times an audience needs to see the message before it will achieve the desired effect and the size of the audience for any particular television spot.

Travel Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Staff

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of her Department's staff are based in London.

Alun Michael: Information on regional distribution of staff as at 1 April 2003 is available in the Libraries of both Houses, and also at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_information/statistics/contents_for_civil_service_statistics_2003_ report/index.asp
	Table D shows the numbers of staff by regional distribution.
	Figures relating to 1 April 2004 are due to be published during February 2005.

Energy Efficiency

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the seasonal efficiency of domestic boilers in the UK system for measuring the energy efficiency of domestic heating boilers.

Elliot Morley: The Seasonal Efficiency of Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) methodology was developed in close partnership with the heating industry. Its accuracy is principally determined by the laboratory tests defined in European Standards necessary to show compliance with the EU Boiler Efficiency Directive (42/92/EEC). As with any assessment there are uncertainties of measurement and these are estimated to be within ±2½ per cent. The accuracy of the laboratory tests is propagated directly to the SEDBUK figure.

Energy Efficiency

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Treasury on (a) the case for a windfall tax on excessive profits made by oil and gas producers and (b) the use of revenues from such a tax to fund a domestic energy efficiency programme; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: My officials, ministerial colleagues and I are in regular contact with our HM Treasury counterparts about a range of subjects. Decisions on taxation are of course a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Environmental Schemes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the costs to UK companies of parallel participation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Climate Change Agreement.

Elliot Morley: The costs of participation in both EU ETS and CCAs have not been estimated. However, the current proposals involving a certain degree of overlap in reporting were a response to industry's concerns that separating the targets between the two schemes would be too difficult. The data required for reporting are essentially the same for the two schemes.

Environmental Schemes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards ensuring compatibility of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the Climate Change Agreement.

Elliot Morley: My officials work closely with the industry led Emissions Trading Group to ensure the two schemes can work alongside each other. We have made several changes to the structure of the schemes to reflect their concerns while continuing to ensure that the environmental benefits of the schemes are maintained.

Environmental Schemes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when a decision will be made on the possible exclusion from the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for companies participating in a Climate Change Agreement.

Elliot Morley: We are discussing some outstanding issues with the Commission in relation to the UK NAP. Once these are resolved we will be able to issue installation level allocations and make a formal application to the Commission for temporary exclusion for CCA installations. Our revised timetable for the announcement of installation level allocations was published on 23 December, and under this we aim to make an application for temporary exclusion by the end of February. We must then wait for a decision by the Commission.

Fareshare

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) representations she has received from and (b) discussions she has had with Fareshare on the (i) Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and (ii) financing of Fareshare's work to distribute supermarket food to the homeless.

Elliot Morley: The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS) was reformed in 2003, as a result of which waste projects are no longer eligible for funding. My Department has been contacted directly by Fareshare, and by others on its behalf, on a number of occasions over the last six months. In response to these representations, we have explained the reasons for the reform of the LTCS and suggested possible alternative sources of Government funding.

Farm Payments

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) farmers and (b) contractors are waiting to receive the full amount of compensation due to them following the outbreak of foot and mouth in 2001; and what sum of money that represents.

Alun Michael: All compensation payable for animals that were compulsorily slaughtered during the FMD epidemic in 2001 has been paid. There are 15 outstanding claims for increased compensation still being considered. The quantum involved will be the subject of arbitration or negotiation in those cases.
	Contractors who provided goods, works or services during FMD were paid for doing so. They were not paid 'compensation'.

Farm Payments

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the money granted to the UK by the EU following the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak has been paid to farmers.

Ben Bradshaw: The co-financing payment received from the EU Commission was a contribution towards the costs of compensation for compulsorily slaughtered animals that had already been paid to farmers and the costs of disease control operations, e.g. cleansing and disinfection, that had already been met by the UK Government.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether City of York local authority representatives will be allocated a full position on the Regional Flood Defence Committee.

Elliot Morley: Local authority representation on the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee (RFDC), as with all other RFDCs, is based upon council tax data for the constituent councils, with seats or part seats allocated accordingly.
	Due to the increase in size of the Yorkshire RFDC from 13 to 15 members as a result of a recent review, it was decided that the most equitable distribution of local authority seats on the Yorkshire RFDC was for the City of York to share a seat with North Yorkshire. In addition, North Yorkshire have an individually allocated seat. The sharing of seats is commonplace among RFDCs.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the allocation of funding for flood defence in York.

Elliot Morley: I understand the Environment Agency is currently undertaking a major strategic study (the River Ouse 'Project Appraisal Guidance (PAG) 2' Study) which will examine the need to provide improved flood protection including to properties in York. The outcome of the draft report is due for public consultation in spring 2005.
	The Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee long-term plan (up to 2013–14) has allocated an initial sum of £30 million to implement improvements identified in the strategy. Some of these improvements will benefit York city. A more accurate estimate will only be possible when the results of the final strategy report are released later this year.
	Approximately £270,000 will be spent in 2004–05 and in future years, on maintaining and improving the condition of flood defences for the benefit of York. (This work includes grass cutting on banks, controlling vermin and routine maintenance and improvement of the extensive mechanical and electrical equipment which forms part of the flood defences, as well as more extensive repairs to the flood defences as identified in the regular, programmed inspections.)
	Extensive improvements have recently been carried out to refurbish the pumps at the Foss Barrier, to repair the flood defences at North Street and to the Clifton Ings barrier bank. The total cost of the works carried out since the floods of autumn 2000 is over £500,000.
	Maintenance of and improvements to the flood warning system for York, flood mapping, development control activity, strategic planning and other costs amount to approximately £400,000 to £500,000 per annum, including in 2004–05.
	The flood warning service for York is comprehensive and staged. Depending on the projected levels in the River Ouse, different warnings are issued to serve different parts of the city. The Environment Agency's knowledge of the catchment area enables warnings to be provided well in excess of two hours before the actual flooding occurs, thereby allowing recipients to take action to protect their property and possessions.

Flooding

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1001W, on Sellafield flooding, if she will make a statement on the impact on Sellafield of the heavy rain of 9 to 11 January.

Elliot Morley: I understand from the Environment Agency that Sellafield suffered no flooding from the rivers Calder and Ehen or from the sea as a result of the heavy rain of 9–11 January 2005.
	There were some localised problems caused by rainwater and high winds, but the safety and security of the site was maintained at all times.

Flooding

Roger Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she has taken to update the list of areas at risk from flooding to take account of forecasts by climate change experts; and what proposals on this she has received from the Environment Agency.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is responsible for flood risk mapping in England. Areas at risk of flooding are shown on the Flood Map on the agency's website. This data are also provided to local planning authorities and others enabling them to make decisions about future development and planning. The Flood Map takes account of the current conditions, and does not show the anticipated effects of future climate change.
	The Environment Agency is currently undertaking a scoping study to identify the best way to depict the likely increase in the risk of flooding. A number of options are being considered. The agency anticipate that this scoping will be complete by summer 2005.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in her Department were employed to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004; and how many staff are budgeted to deal with Freedom of Information Act 2000 issues in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006.

Alun Michael: Until 2004 Defra had no staff working full-time on Freedom of Information. The full-time equivalents of staff in the Access to Information Unit, including those working on the implementation of the Environmental Information Regulations for Defra, in each of the years you mention is approximately as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 (a) 2001 1 
			 (b) 2002 1 
			 (c) 2003 2 
			 (d) 2004 7 
		
	
	That figure has risen to eight in 2005. The budget for 2006 has yet to be determined.
	Beyond those staff directly involved in the ongoing implementation and application of FOI within Defra, it is difficult to identify precisely the number of officials who will be dealing with Freedom of Information requests from January 2005 onwards, since it is potentially part of every civil servant's role to respond to Freedom of Information requests.

Fuel Poverty

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the public sector health bodies with which her Department (a) has worked and (b) is working in order to achieve the Government's statutory fuel poverty targets; what plans her Department has to extend such partnership working; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra works with the Department of Health to ensure that the issue of fuel poverty is considered in the work of public sector health bodies. Defra has also supported, via National Energy Action, the appointment of a number of primary care trust champions to promote the need to tackle fuel poverty in their local area.
	The scheme managers for Defra's Warm Front programme work closely with public health bodies to promote the benefits of the scheme and highlight the role improved energy efficiency plays in tackling fuel poverty.

Landfill

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: The 1999 landfill directive sets challenging targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill. These significant reductions need to be properly planned and managed and experience suggests that a steady reduction over a period of years is likely to be the most effective way to achieve the reductions needed.
	To help local authorities meet their landfill directive targets the Government will introduce a Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme in England on 1 April 2005. The primary aim of the scheme is to give authorities as much flexibility as possible in reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill, while reassuring Government that the necessary progress towards achieving the directive's targets is being made.
	The scheme is not intended to inflict major new costs on local authorities not provided for in spending reviews, either by imposing unnecessary penalties or forcing them to take part in trading against their will. It is designed as a tool to help local authorities meet the required reductions in the most cost-effective way and it will allow them to share the burden of meeting the reduction targets.

National Bee Unit

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many colonies of bees are within the workload of each bee inspector; and how many beekeepers each inspector is responsible for in the six months of the year when inspections are undertaken.

Alun Michael: On average, each inspector visits about 70 beekeepers and inspects about 650 colonies in the course of a season. Inspections are targeted in areas where disease risk and colony density are high. A bout 10 per cent. of the total number of colonies is inspected each year.

Oil Contamination

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures (a) she and (b) the Environment Agency is taking to detect sites of land contaminated by oil leaks and spillages; and what programmes exist to treat such sites.

Elliot Morley: Under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, introduced in April 2000, responsibility for identifying contaminated land rests with local authorities in accordance with the detailed provisions of the regime. Where contaminated land is designated a "special site", as defined, the Environment Agency becomes the enforcing authority. Remediation is normally undertaken by the "appropriate persons", or at their expense, if necessary through the service of a remediation notice by the enforcing authority.

Rights of Way

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the process for closing alleys or gallies which are designated as rights of way; and how many such closures have been secured since the legislation was last updated.

Alun Michael: Schedule 6 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 inserted new section 118B into the Highways Act 1980. This enables highway authorities to close rights of way on the grounds of crime prevention in areas designated by the Secretary of State. The first stage of the process is for the relevant highway authority to apply to Defra to have an area designated. If successful, they can then make special extinguishment orders in much the same way as they are currently able to close rights of way for other reasons.
	Since the powers came into force in February 2003, 22 applications have been received and considered. As a result 18 extinguishment orders have been made under section 118B. Fifteen of these orders have now been confirmed. Two are awaiting decisions having been referred to the Secretary of State because objections were received and a third is expected shortly following an objection.

Rights of Way

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish her response to the consultation on the Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way.

Alun Michael: The response to the consultation, entitled "Use of mechanically propelled vehicles on Rights of Way—The Government's framework for action" was published on 20 January. Copies have been placed in the House Library.

River Itchen

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to facilitate the improvement in the navigability of (a) the River Itchen, north of Southampton and (b) other rivers in Hampshire; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no direct power to facilitate the improvement of navigability of the River Itchen or any other non-navigable river. Those wishing to improve the navigability of non-navigable rivers are free to apply to the Secretary of State for an order for this purpose under the Transport and Works Act 1992. They will be expected to justify their proposals and any objections will be carefully considered.

River Itchen

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received about improving the navigability of the Itchen Navigation.

Elliot Morley: No representations about this subject have been received.

Telephone Usage

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much revenue her Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.

Alun Michael: My Department has only one non-geographic 0870 number. Revenue is not collected for its use.

Telephone Usage

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers are in use by her Department; and what services can be accessed by calling each of them.

Alun Michael: My Department has only one non-geographic 0870 number which is provided for callers to the Pet Travel Scheme Helpline.

Video Conferencing Units

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) the Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
	(a) Defra has 43 video conferencing units installed and this covers approximately 30 per cent. of core Defra sites.
	(b) Information on agencies is as follows:
	RPA has seven units covering 100 per cent. OF RPA sites
	VLA has 16 units covering 100 per cent. of VLA sites
	CEFAS has four units covering 100 per cent. of CEFAS sites
	CSL has one unit at its only site
	VMD has one unit at its only site
	PSD is located in one building and uses Defra facilities within the same complex
	Defra is actively promoting the use of videoconferencing across the Department and additional units will be installed as demand increases.

Warm Front

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households in Burnley have benefited from Warm Front; how many pensioners have been assisted by the programme; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Since the launch of the Warm Front scheme in June 2000 and the end of December 2004 approximately 4,300 households in Burnley received assistance under Warm Front of which 480 were pensioner households.
	Of the total households that have benefited some 1,250 pensioner households received assistance under Warm Front Plus.

Water Infrastructure

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of the (a) water supply and (b) sewerage infrastructure in England which is in unsatisfactory condition; and what estimate she has made of (i) the cost of necessary repair and maintenance of the infrastructure and (ii) the length of time at current levels of investment to clear the backlog.

Elliot Morley: In 2003, companies reported to Ofwat the profile of their assets across condition grades 1 (best) to 5 (worst). Around 5 per cent. of water mains, 3 per cent. of critical sewers and 5 per cent. of non-critical sewers were reported in condition grade 5.
	Each year the Director General of Water Services (the Director) assesses the trend in serviceability of the water mains and sewers in England and Wales. The assessment is that serviceability is currently stable and Ofwat does not consider there to be a 'backlog' of work.
	At the 2004 price review the Director has assumed in price limits that water companies in England and Wales will spend around £1.87 billion on water mains and £1.03 billion on sewers to maintain their assets in the period 2005–10.

Waterways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what obligations there are on British Waterways to ensure that waterways under its jurisdiction remain navigable; and what action she has undertaken during her Department's current statutory review of British Waterways to ensure that waterways remain navigable.

Alun Michael: In recent years British Waterways has made considerable progress in reducing a maintenance backlog that had built up over many decades. It has also brought to completion a number of projects to restore derelict waterways to navigation.
	Section 105 of the Transport Act 1968 sets out British Waterways' statutory duties for maintaining its commercial and cruising waterways. Subject to these obligations, British Waterways is required by its framework document to operate and maintain its waterways to standards that reflect their use and prospects of use. No decisions arising from the current review of British Waterways have yet been taken.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

African Union Summit

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the proposals for (a) humanitarian aid, (b) reconstruction aid and (c) long-term development aid made during the African Union summit in Gabon with regard to (i) Sudan, (ii) Cote d'Ivoire and (iii) Democratic Republic of the Congo; what assessment his Department has made of the availability of the (A) infrastructure and (B) qualified manpower needed to maximise the efficiency of the implementation of such proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The African Union (AU) Summit in Libreville on 10 January was a meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC). As far as I am aware, there were no specific proposals for humanitarian or other development assistance made. The subsequent communiqué set out the Council's position on the situation in Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. DFID's assessment of these is set out as follows:
	(I) Sudan
	DFID shares the AU's concern regarding the humanitarian situation in Sudan.
	DFID concurs with the AU's call for an end to violations of the humanitarian ceasefire as well their call to cease attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers.
	DFID supports the call for the right of return of all IDP's and refugees affected by the conflicted, but the UK strongly condemns any forced relocations. The UK Ambassador to Sudan has made representations to the Government of Sudan to adhere to its obligations and commitments under the Memorandum of Understanding on Darfur with the International Organisation for Migration, which prohibits involuntary movement of internally displaced persons.
	With the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Abuja Protocols, the UK has worked hard alongside the AU and UN to ensure that there is the political will among the warring parties to allow humanitarian agencies to do their work. Through its direct support of both the AU monitoring mission and United Nations Security Co-ordinator (UNSECOORD) the UK has sought to provide the effective infrastructure and manpower to achieve this. Since April 2003, the UK has allocated £118.5 million on humanitarian operations in Sudan and its Darfur region, as well as £14 million in support of the AU monitoring mission. It is continuing its support for the next financial year with a commitment of £100 million for Sudan of which £50 million is towards the UN Workplan.
	(II) Cote d'Ivoire
	The United Kingdom is working closely with the countries of the Africa Union and other members of the international community in support of a durable political settlement in Cote d'Ivoire. DFID welcomes the endorsement of President Mbeki's peace plan at the AU Peace and Security Council meeting on 10 January, and we hope that the AU's commitment to peace will encourage all sides to work together to bring about a sustainable peace in the country.
	DFID is continuing to monitor the humanitarian situation. During 2004, we provided £1.55 million in humanitarian assistance through international agencies and non-governmental organizations working there.
	(III) the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
	The focus was on how to deal with the continuing tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, rather than a consideration of humanitarian, reconstruction and long-term development issues. The Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) welcome the commitments made by the AU to continue to support the DRC peace process and to work towards improving relations between DRC and Rwanda.

AIDS Aid

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources were committed to expenditure on HIV/AIDS in developing countries in 2003–04, broken down by (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid.

Hilary Benn: Recording accurate expenditure on HIV and AIDS is difficult because of the cross-cutting nature of many HIV and AIDS initiatives and of the range of methods used to channel development assistance, including direct budget support to governments and via multilateral organisations. DFID is currently working on ways to better account for expenditure in this area and revised figures may be issued later in the year. The following are estimated figures for bilateral and multilateral independently.
	In 2003–04, DFID's bilateral expenditure on projects that targeted HIV and AIDS, was £297 million. This figure reflects all projects that were recorded as having a primary or significant focus on HIV and AIDS or reproductive health. It should be noted that some of these projects will also have had a primary or significant focus on other sectoral areas such as education or health systems development.
	In addition, expenditure which focused on AIDS through multilateral organisations was estimated at £48 million. This is based on the share of spending which multilateral organisations, supported by DFID, said they directed towards AIDS.
	The overall spend is likely to be in excess of £345 million, as further money has been spent on AIDS directly by partner governments receiving 'Poverty Reduction Budget Support' (PRBS) from the UK. DFID is currently in the process of developing a methodology for estimating the proportion likely to be spent on HIV and AIDS activities, though this exercise is not yet complete.

Bam Earthquake

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the Government have (a) pledged and (b) spent in relief and reconstruction for Bam, Iran, following the earthquake in 2003.

Hilary Benn: Following the earthquake in Bam, the Department for International Development committed £1,676,640 to support immediate humanitarian needs and rebuild livelihoods. £1,206,640 was channelled through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations as financial support.
	From the balance, DFID provided 68 search and rescue specialists and four DFID personnel, 450 family winter tents and other shelter materials for distribution by the Iranian Red Crescent as well as two cargo aircraft put at the disposal of the Iranian Government.
	In addition, the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office contributed €8.5 million for emergency relief and rehabilitation of which the UK's share was €1.445 million (£1.01 million).

Bangladesh

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to Bangladesh after the floods in 2004.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government allocated £10 million through DFID to meet immediate flood emergency needs following the floods in July 2004. £5 million of this was channelled through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and £5 million through the World Food Programme (WFP). Supporting these two organisations ensured that both food and non-food emergency needs of those affected by the flood were met. This initial £10 million provided food packages of rice, pulses, oil, salt and nutritionally fortified high-energy biscuits; and non-food support, including shelter and agricultural support (such as provision of seedlings) to over 900,000 families (4.5 million people) affected by the floods.
	In August the United Nations launched its Consolidated Appeal for $210 million (£117 million) to meet relief and recovery needs for the next 6 months. Again, the UK Government acted swiftly to meet the extensive recovery and rehabilitation needs of Bangladesh. On 18 August, DFID's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced an additional £15 million through DFID for Bangladesh to support the repair, replacement and maintenance of roads and bridges; to provide food, shelter, clean water, sanitation, medial supplies; and to provide funds for cash-for-work programmes to give people affected by the floods the opportunity to earn income to help recover from the floods.
	From this £15 million, £1 million has been channelled to the World Food Programme to support their provision of food to those affected by the floods. £2 million has been channelled through the UNDP to provide temporary and longer-term shelter to flood affected families, working in partnership with the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED). Another £4 million has been channelled through the UNDP to support NGO-managed 'cash-for-work' programmes. £2 million has been channelled to the World Health Organisation (WHO) through the UNDP to provide medical supplies to maternal and child welfare centres and urban clinics. £2 million has been channelled through the UNDP to United Nations Children's Fund (UNCIEF) to work with the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) to restore access to safe water and sanitation facilities. The final £4 million was provided to the Government of Bangladesh's Roads and Highways Department to support their request for emergency financing for roads, bridges and culverts damaged by the recent floods.
	A further £4 million was channelled to the World Food Programme's Emergency Response Programme (EMOP) in October 2004. This will enable the poorest flood victims to have continued access to food during the period of scarcity, which has followed the floods.
	Staff from the DFID Bangladesh office were extensively involved in responding to the floods in 2004 but no other personnel were involved.
	The UK Government expenditure that is channelled through the European Commission and the multilateral development banks has also contributed to the total humanitarian assistance. The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) provided $5.3 million through the UN Flash Appeal, $230 million is being provided through the World Bank and $180 million through the Asian Development Bank as loans to the Government of Bangladesh for a post-flood recovery and assistance programmes.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people displaced from Karen and Karenni states in Burma in 2004.

Hilary Benn: Displaced people are among the poorest and most marginalised people in Burma and are often located in areas where DFID or international agencies have little or no access. Therefore reliable statistics on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Karen and Karenni States are unavailable. DFID cannot access these areas freely and have not made an independent assessment on the number of people displaced. However in October 2004, the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) estimated that the number of people displaced from their homes in Burma was at least 526,000 in total.
	Securing increased access to these vulnerable areas is an important objective of DFID. DFID is currently working with international organisations such as the UN to encourage the Burmese authorities to do this. DFID is currently providing £500,000 to support the International Committee of the Red Cross, who have been gradually increasing their access and are now operating in significant areas of the Eastern Burma.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will reply to the letter dated 22 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Anna Galding and Matilda Chime.

Hilary Benn: I replied to my right. hon. Friend in my letter of 7 December 2004.

Darfur

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the incidence of malaria in refugee camps in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: According to the United Nations (UN) Morbidity and Mortality Bulletin, between 22 May and 31 December 2004, there were a total of 168,584 clinically diagnosed Malaria cases, including 319 deaths reported in Darfur. The greatest distribution of cases was reported in West Darfur. The figures are from two thirds of the internally displaced people (IDP) settlements and hospitals in the region, which covers 1.1 million of the conflicted affected population.
	The traditional malaria season in Sudan runs from May through to November, and therefore the numbers of reported cases are expected to ease off early into the 2005. Access to internally displaced people, security, and the poor provision of health care facilities in some areas continue to hamper the diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence;
	(2)  how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Hilary Benn: Information in the format requested is not held centrally and cannot be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.
	The following table gives the costs of official travel and UK hotel accommodation booked through DFID's travel implant. Travel costs incurred by DFID overseas departments and booked through overseas travel agents are not included. All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code. Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2004 is available in the Library of the House. Information for the financial year 2004–05 will be published as soon as possible at the end of the current financial year.
	
		Travel and hotel payments
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 7.5 
			 1999–2000 7.2 
			 2000–01 8.7 
			 2001–02 9.2 
			 2002–03 10.4 
			 2003–04 10.4

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department spent on first-class travel in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: The cost of first class travel in 2003–04 was £77,000. Information on first class travel before that date is not held centrally and cannot be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Electronic Devices

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type.

Hilary Benn: DFID has records of the following electronic devices:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Desktop personal computers (worldwide) 3,433 
			 Portable personal computers (worldwide) 1,513 
			 Server computers (worldwide) 540 
			 Handheld computers (worldwide) 834 
			 Mobile phones (UK only) 467 
			 Printers (UK only) 682 
			 Plasma screens (UK only) 43 
			 Video conference units (UK only) 76 
			 Fax machines (UK only) 62 
		
	
	The asset registry is currently being expanded to include printers, screens, video conference units and fax machines at overseas locations. At present, records relating to these types of equipment are only held locally and summary figures are not available without incurring a disproportionate cost.
	Mobile phones are purchased locally at each office. The figures show the number of mobile phones on the UK contract. The numbers at each overseas office cannot be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Freedom of Information

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his Department in the last three years.

Hilary Benn: The Freedom of Information Act does not make specific categories of information available, but operates on the presumption that all information held by public authorities should be available, subject to the 24 exemptions of the Act.
	Whether or not information is exempt under the Act requires the exercise of judgment in each case. The majority of the exemptions also require that the public interest in releasing the information should be weighed against the public interest in withholding it. If the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in withholding it the information must be disclosed. The assessment of the public interest has to be made in all the circumstances of the case, on a case by case basis as far as each request is concerned. Therefore it is not possible to provide the information requested.

HIV/AIDS Action Programme

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what discussions he is having with (a) members of the European Parliament and (b) the Council of Ministers to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children are given the necessary priority in the Programme for Action and the new EU Development Policy;
	(2)  if he will make representations to EU counterparts that the EU give the same priority to orphans and vulnerable children as the UK in its HIV/AIDS Programme for Action.

Hilary Benn: Along with other member states, DFID is engaging in the consultation process towards a new Programme for Action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis which the EC expects to adopt in 2006. The current Programme for Action does not address orphans and vulnerable children but we will consider how best to address this gap in the forthcoming consultations. Discussions on the new EU Development Policy have only just started. The Commission has produced a "Consultation on the future of EU Development Policy Issues Paper", which includes consideration of the broad themes of "Development of human resources and citizens' rights" and "Combating inequality and promoting social cohesion", both of which are likely to include consideration of orphans and vulnerable children. Consultations with members of the European Parliament and other member states will take place in due course.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on the state of Iraq's health care system; and what action his Department is taking to improve the level of basic health care in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Iraqi health care faces enormous and longstanding challenges which pre-date the 2003 conflict. However, the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) has already taken a number of positive steps to strengthen public health services. For example, funding to the health service has increased significantly since April 2003. In addition, through the multi-donor trust funds managed by the United Nations and the World Bank, about $1 billion is available for Iraqi priorities in health and other sectors. Salaries have improved and charges largely abolished, providing free access to health care for all. The Iraqi Ministry of Health, with support from the United Nations, has also developed a set of Planning Guidelines for 2005 which set out national priorities and the objectives and standards that the Ministry expect to achieve.
	DFID support is focussed on primary health care, through the provision of professional advice to the Ministry of Health in Baghdad and Basra, and a £5 million grant through the World Health Organisation (WHO). Additional DFID support for health services in Iraq is channelled through the multi-donor trust funds managed by the United Nations and the World Bank. DFID has made an initial contribution of £70 million to these trust funds.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on levels of acute malnutrition amongst Iraqi children up to the age of five years; and what action his Department is taking to reduce levels of child malnutrition in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: The most recent national survey of nutritional status conducted in Iraq took place in the second quarter of 2004 by the Iraqi Central Office of Statistics and Information Technology, with technical support from the Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies, Norway. This survey found that 7.5 per cent. of children under five years old were acutely malnourished, defined as low weight for a given height. A UNICEF survey conducted in 2000 found that 6.4 per cent. of children of the same age group were acutely malnourished. Another survey was subsequently conducted in 2002 but it was not nationally representative, and therefore direct comparisons are not valid.
	All surveys are subject to a certain amount of imprecision and it is not possible to state whether the apparent increase from 6.4 per cent. to 7.5 per cent. reflects a real trend. General child malnutrition—defined as weight for age—showed a marked improvement over the same period, falling from 17.3 per cent. to 11.7 per cent.
	Reducing levels of acute malnutrition means ensuring that adequate supplies of food reach the poorest families whilst also working to tackle poverty and ensure equitable distribution of wealth in the long term. DFID helped to ensure that Iraq's Public Distribution System (PDS) for food was re-established quickly after the conflict in 2003. DFID is now supporting the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) in the development of economic policies which will protect the poorest in Iraq who are dependent on the PDS, whilst reducing the economic distortions created by distributing food, virtually free, to the entire population. The PDS currently accounts for 12.5 per cent. of Iraqi Government expenditure. DFID is also developing a programme aimed at strengthening Iraqi Government capacity to implement pro-poor employment and social protection policies. In addition, DFID programmes in employment generation and political participation are aimed at reducing poverty and ensuring that the needs of the most vulnerable in Iraq are addressed in Government policies.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of children attending schools in Iraq not receiving a nutritional dinner each day; what percentage of the total number attending school this amounts to; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: There are no current data sources available of nutritional content of children's dinners in Iraq. DFID is helping the Iraqi Government in the implementation of pro-poor economic policies designed to reduce poverty across Iraq and ensure adequate social safety nets for those most in need.

Iraq

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research is being conducted on the impact of the war on Iraqi (a) health and (b) mortality.

Hilary Benn: The most recent research focusing on health and mortality in Iraq has been published by Medact, a non-governmental organisation, and by The Lancet.
	The Medact report, published in November 2004, was critical of the Iraqi health system, but recognised that the institutional weaknesses were longstanding and pre-date the 2003 conflict and that the Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH) was addressing these. Medact also acknowledged that health data on Iraq are patchy, often unreliable and that their consultants were unable to visit Iraq to collect field data due to the security situation. The Iraqi MoH has issued a swift and strong rebuttal of the Medact report.
	Improving health services presents major challenges and will take time. Despite security constraints, steady progress is being made, and many more hospitals are now functioning and have better access to medicines. Since the Medact survey was conducted the MoH have produced Planning Guidelines for 2005, with support from donors, to meet these challenges. The UN and World Bank managed multi-donor trust funds provide support to the health sector, focusing on the improvement of emergency and primary health care services, which affect the poorest and most vulnerable. DFID has contributed £70 million to the multi-donor trust funds and has also provided technical assistance to the MoH.
	The Lancet article of 29 October 2004, looked at mortality in Iraq. As the Foreign Secretary explained in his written statement to Parliament on 17 November 2004, Official Report, column 93WS, the Government believe that the Iraqi authorities remain in the best position to monitor the casualties of their nationals.

Iraq

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, columns 686–87W, on Iraq, how many families from Fallujah have received the $100 welfare payment; how many households have received the $200 payment from US military forces; how much in welfare payments has been distributed by the Iraqi authorities through banks in the areas where they are living; how much the Department has spent on people displaced from Fallujah; and what provision has been made for the health needs of the residents of Fallujah who have been displaced from the city.

Hilary Benn: The Iraqi Ministry of Finance has reported that it began to distribute welfare payments of $100 to Fallujan families from seven bank branches on 13 January. Information is not available on how many families have received this payment to date.
	US military forces began making payments of $200 to Fallujan families on 13 January. By 19 January they had issued 32,546 payments amounting to approximately $6.5 million. Since the estimated number of Fallujan households is around 36,000, the US military anticipate completing payments soon.
	DFID's response to the needs of the people of Fallujah has been through the deployment of advisers to the Iraqi Interim Government on humanitarian, health and coordination issues. One consultant was contracted specifically to work on humanitarian coordination in and around Fallujah. Other DFID staff and consultants, either already in Iraq or assigned from headquarters, also contributed to the effort. The cost of this work is being absorbed within existing programmes. Direct financial support for the people of Fallujah, and for the reconstruction of the city, is being provided largely from Iraqi and United States sources.
	The Iraqi Ministry of Health assessed the needs of Fallujah's displaced population and provided additional staff and medical supplies to the clinics and hospitals in the areas where most of those people were living. Fallujah General Hospital and two primary care clinics in Fallujah are open to provide care for people returning to the city.

Iraq

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent by the UK Government on reconstruction in Iraq, in each month since April 2003.

Hilary Benn: Monthly DFID expenditure on assistance to Iraq since April 2003 has been:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2003  
			 April 35,098 
			 May 35,937,923 
			 June 11,304,549 
			 July 999,212 
			 August 2,576,931 
			 September 33,754,105 
			 October 2,506,797 
			 November 7,696,857 
			 December 2,396,104 
			   
			 2004  
			 January 7,182,744 
			 February 6,179,041 
			 March 98,743,354 
			 April 1,487,010 
			 May 2,894,577 
			 June 4,155,992 
			 July 2,437,976 
			 August 4,637,169 
			 September 4,270,838 
			 October 2,549,869 
			 November 6,663,411 
			 December 3,081,410 
			   
			 2005  
			 January (2)1,099,965 
		
	
	(2) Up to 20 January
	Note:
	Months with particularly large expenditures were those in which contributions were made to multilateral organisations.
	Total DFID expenditure on assistance to Iraq since April 2003 has been £242,590,932.
	Spending by other Government Departments over the same period on activities related to reconstruction in Iraq were:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 38 
			 Ministry of Defence 20 
			 Global Conflict Prevention Pool (joint DFID, FCO  and MOD 17

Mozambique

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged and (ii) delivered to Mozambique after the 2000 floods.

Hilary Benn: The UK pledged £26 million at the Rome donor conference held in response to the Government of Mozambique's appeal for assistance following the 2000 floods. Our actual expenditure was £37 million. This was composed of £10 million in additional budgetary assistance to the Government of Mozambique to compensate for revenue losses, £7 million for the reconstruction of the north-south highway and a total of £20 million channelled through United Nations agencies and NGOs to meet a range of emergency needs, including food assistance, helicopter operations, provision of water and sanitation and logistical support. Given the number of projects and agencies involved, providing the detailed breakdown requested would incur a disproportionate cost.

Palestinian Police

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what makes of car have been selected for supply to the Palestinian Police force in the programme funded by the UK; in which country those vehicles were manufactured; and what assessment was made of the options for procurement of vehicles produced in the UK.

Hilary Benn: The police cars for the Palestinian Authority (PA) police force were selected and bought by the PA in line with their procurement procedures. This included an evaluation of all available vehicles in the market and their suitability and price. The cars selected were Volkswagen Passats, manufactured in Germany and procured through a Palestinian car dealership. DFID's development assistance is fully untied. Choice of vehicle would not be restricted to any make or model but based on value for money and operational requirements in the destination country.

Pay Television Subscriptions

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Hilary Benn: DFID subscribes to the parliamentary TV system to allow access to the parliamentary annunciator system, the Division Bell and Commons and Lords TV channels in the UK. Other services and channels are included in the package: these are selected by the Information Committee of the Houses of Parliament. These additional channels include the pay TV channels: CNN; Sky Sports 1; Sky Sports 2; Sky Sports 3. The annual costs of the subscription since 1997 are:
	
		Annual subscription costs
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1997 no figures are available 
			 1998 19,770 
			 1999 19,770 
			 2000 20,500 
			 2001 20,500 
			 2002 20,850 
			 2003 (3)20,850 
			 2004 (3) 20,850 
		
	
	(3) Estimate figure
	DFID has no other pay television subscriptions in the UK and there is no central provision of pay television services to overseas offices. Information about any local purchases overseas could not be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Press Officers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press officers are employed in the Department.

Hilary Benn: As at 1 April 2004, DFID employed five press officers, including one chief press officer and four press officers or senior press officers.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Adviser.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right. hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

Sri Lanka

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on equal access of Tamil people to aid.

Hilary Benn: I visited Sri Lanka on 8 January and met with local government officials and MPs. Officials in the DFID Sri Lanka office are holding regular discussions with government officials concerning the needs, priorities and strategies in relation to the delivery of humanitarian assistance. DFID's humanitarian response has been channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross movement, and non-governmental organisations and in direct in kind interventions aimed at addressing immediate needs. DFID has supported the United Nations in undertaking impact and needs assessments, co-ordination, technical advice and air movements logistics support. The assistance that we have provided, and are supporting, is geographically spread throughout the country. This includes substantial support to Tamil communities in proportion to needs across the country.

Staff Vacancies

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Hilary Benn: DFID spent £714,122 on vacancy advertising in the 2002 calendar year, and £691,937 in the 2003 calendar year.

Tsunami

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development at what time, using Greenwich Mean Time (a) he and (b) his Department was first informed of the earthquake off Sumatra on 26 December; and when (i) he and (ii) officials in his Department were informed that the earthquake had caused a tsunami.

Hilary Benn: DFID first became aware of the earthquake at 02.40 (GMT), and was receiving the first reports of flood damage at 06.50. I first became aware of both the earthquake and the consequent tsunami at about 10.00 am.

Tsunami

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the money committed by his Department as a result of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami includes money that will be charged back by the Ministry of Defence for costs related to the use of UK military staff and equipment in relief and support efforts in the area; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In response to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence have an agreement based on marginal costing related to the use of UK military staff and equipment in the relief effort. The costs are agreed in advance and are competitive with commercial rates.

Tsunami

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates his Department have made of the total value of UK Government spending committed following the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that will be paid to (a) other UK Government departments, (b) the UN or its agencies, (c) non-governmental organisations, (d) other national governments and (e) other agencies working in the countries affected; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has committed £75 million towards immediate humanitarian needs. This assistance is being channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement, non-governmental organisations and by DFID direct action. Of this, £40 million has been pledged as the UK contribution to the UN Flash Appeal. Requests for support from non-governmental organisations are still being received and we are continuing our direct action in support of priority needs. DFID estimates that the combined value of these will be about £25 million. The balance is being provided through the Red Cross, local initiatives being considered by DFID Country Offices, and the Ministry of Defence to cover the marginal costs of their operation.
	On the bilateral front, DFID is continuing with the implementation of its international development programmes in those countries affected, where it has a bilateral programme. The UK is also providing Gift Aid relief on the money donated by the British public so far, which could be worth some £15 million. In addition to this, our share of the proposed package of up to €450 million from the European Community budget for immediate and longer-term relief is €90 million (approx. £63 million).
	On debt relief, Sri Lanka has been added to the list of countries eligible for the UK's multilateral debt relief initiative. The UK will pay 10 per cent. of its debt service costs to the International Development Association (IDA) which amounts to approximately US $5.5 million in 2005, $5.8 million in 2006 and $6.2 million in 2007.

Tsunami

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the sources are of UK financial assistance from public funds to date for the tsunami disaster; and what percentage of the pledged aid (a) is from the existing departmental budget and (b) he expects will be funded by other Government sources, broken down by source.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by the Prime Minister to the House of Commons on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 24. As the Prime Minister explained, the Government has so far committed £75 million towards the immediate humanitarian response to the Indian Ocean disaster. This has been drawn from (a) DFID's humanitarian contingency budget and DFID's central Contingency Reserve (66.7 per cent.) and (b) the Treasury's Reserve (33.3 per cent.).

Tsunami

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what lessons his Department has drawn on the deployment of UK search and rescue teams following experience in the South Asian tsunami disaster area.

Hilary Benn: DFID did not deploy search and rescue teams following the Tsunami as the affected governments did not request UK search and rescue teams.

Tsunami

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Indonesian Government about restrictions imposed on aid agencies regarding access to the Aceh region.

Hilary Benn: The Indonesian Government are concerned for the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers, and has introduced registration procedures. They also offer guidance and police escorts to those wishing to travel to areas where escorts are judged necessary. There have not been any reports of these measures restricting the movement of humanitarian aid, though DFID continues to monitor the situation.

Tsunami

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's long-term strategy is for dealing with the aftermath of the tsunami disaster.

Hilary Benn: In addition to the £75 million already committed for immediate relief and recovery, DFID will make a further contribution to longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction. DFID's focus will be on support to rebuilding livelihoods and services for poor people in affected countries. The governments concerned are currently completing needs assessments with the support of the World Bank and others. DFID will consider how we can best channel our support once we have the completed assessments of need.
	DFID will work to ensure that the views of the poorest and most vulnerable are taken into account throughout the process of rehabilitation. It will be important that the response of donors and international agencies is co-ordinated properly to ensure effective use of funds and minimum burden on recipient countries. We will work to ensure that the UN relief effort is sustained and that there is a smooth transition from the recovery phase to longer-term rehabilitation.

Tsunami

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with tsunami-affected countries on providing training for (a) local counsellors for victims suffering from post-traumatic stress and (b) local architects in relation to (i) reconstruction programmes and (ii) the design of safer essential buildings.

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises that psycho-social help is a key need in those countries affected by the tsunami. DFID has committed £2 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for its programme in the region, which includes support to this sector. DFID has also provided £57,933 to the NGO "Basic Needs" for its work in mental health and psycho-social support in Sri Lanka. We are currently considering other funding proposals, which may include further support to psycho-social health.
	DFID will work with the governments of the countries affected by the tsunami to ensure that disaster risk reduction measures, including reconstruction programmes and design of safer buildings, are integral to the reconstruction of the devastated areas. These issues are being discussed by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with representatives of the governments concerned at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan. Reconstruction programmes and design of buildings will naturally involve local architects and they will identify if there is a need for external expertise or training.

Tsunami

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with countries affected by the tsunami about the supply of (a) field hospitals and (b) water purification plants.

Hilary Benn: DFID has provided relief items at the request of affected governments and following assessments of need by humanitarian agencies. DFID did not receive any specific request for field hospitals or water purification plants.
	DFID has responded to health needs through support to organisations working in the health sector. Although it is difficult to be precise at this stage, a large proportion of DFID's support has gone to meet health needs, including £3.1 million to the World Health Organisation and additionally to non-governmental organisations including the International Medical Corps (£327,250) and the Mentor Initiative (£897,000). DFID also provided health related relief items, including enough emergency medical supplies to serve two million people for three months.
	For water purification, DFID provided 1,000,000 water purification tablets, as well as support to implementing partners working in water and sanitation. This includes £4 million to UNICEF for water and sanitation activities in Indonesia, India the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and £2 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

West African Currency

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Central Bank of the States of West Africa's recent introduction of new currency into (a) Benin, (b) Burkina Faso, (c) Côte d'Ivoire, (d) Guinea Bissau, (e) Mali, (f) Niger, (g) Senegal and (h) Togo; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what reports (a) he and (b) his Department has received on shortcomings in the distribution policy of the Central Bank of the States of West Africa in its recent introduction of new currency into its member states; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the (a) policy and (b) implementation of the policy of the Central Bank of the States of West Africa in its recent introduction of new currency into its member states, with particular reference to access to and distribution of new currency and exchange places in northern Côte d'Ivoire; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID is aware of practical difficulties encountered in the currency conversion operation. We understand that these have been recognised, and resulted in an extension of the surrender deadline. DFID has not received any substantive independent reports or assessments of the conversion operation. DFID's bilateral activity and representation in the Franc of the African Financial Community (CFA Franc) zone is modest. DFID contributes to the countries concerned mainly through multilateral donors.

TRANSPORT

Civil Service Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many items of civil service property within his Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type;
	(2)  if he will list the property belonging to his Department that has (a) been stolen and (b) been reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article.

Charlotte Atkins: The answer to the questions includes the Central Department only and covers the period since the Department was formed on the 29 May 2002. To obtain a full answer including the Executive Agencies and NDPBs would involve disproportionate cost.
	The following items have been reported lost or stolen:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Travel Vouchers 51 
			 Laptop Computers 5 
			 Government Procurement Cards 7 
			 Computer Accessory 1 
			 Building Passes 2

Criminal Offences

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department in the (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 session, broken down by Act.

Charlotte Atkins: I have placed in the Libraries of the House a list of the criminal offences created in primary legislation sponsored by the Department for Transport in the sessions in question.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many there were in each year broken down by (a) actions, (b) settlements and (c) court cases and what the costs were of each settlement.

Charlotte Atkins: The records available to the Department for Transport disclose the following information in respect of legal actions to which the Department (including its Agencies) and its predecessor Departments (in relation to their transport functions) were a party.
	The total number of legal actions during the financial years 1997–98 to 2004–05 is 6,522. On these, the Departments have incurred a total sum in respect of legal costs (excluding internal staff costs) of approximately £37.4 million. This figure breaks down on an annual basis as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 3.8 
			 1998–99 5.0 
			 1999–2000 5.1 
			 2000–01 4.9 
			 2001–02 3.5 
			 2002–03 3.9 
			 2003–04 6.1 
			 2004–05 5.1 
		
	
	Information as to the number and costs of actions resulting in court hearings and of settlements could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

Eurostar

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with representatives from Eurostar; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Ministers and officials meet representatives from Eurostar from time to time and discuss various matters.

External Suppliers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tenders were let by his Department to external suppliers in the financial year 2003–04; and what the value was.

Charlotte Atkins: The information for the central department and its agencies is set out in the following table.
	
		2003–04
		
			 Organisation Number of contracts for goods, works and services awarded Total value (£) Threshold above which tenders are invited (£) 
		
		
			 DfT(C) 188 70,850,958 (4)25,000 
			 Highways Agency 129 963,655,633 15,000 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 89 28,090,488 10,000 
			 Driving Standards Agency 28 3,199,389 20,000 
			 Marine and Coastguard Agency 186 12,816,000 5,000 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 187 12,467,853 (5)— 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 1 106,675 15,000 
			 Total 808 1,091,186,996 — 
		
	
	(4) £0 threshold for IT services.
	(5) £3,000 for goods, services and consultancy. £15,000 for works.

Flooding

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what flood risk analysis was undertaken prior to approval being given for the Carlisle Northern Development Route; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: The design of the scheme includes a major crossing over the River Eden and its flood plain. This is a 144 metre long two span structure with one span entirely within the flood plain. At this point, the proposed route is on a 9 metre high embankment to carry the road over the river and its flood plain. I understand that scheme designers worked with the Environment Agency in the development of the scheme and the proposed design reflects a number of constraints required by the Agency.
	I also understand that the county council are producing a Flood Risk Assessment in support of a planning application to amend conditions in the existing planning consent.

M2

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for the resurfacing of the M2 between junctions 5 and 6 with noise-reducing material.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency intends to resurface the M2 between junctions 5 and 6 (Sittingbourne to Faversham) with a quieter surfacing material in the summer/autumn of 2005, subject to funding being available.

Ministerial Engagements

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004.

Charlotte Atkins: The Secretary of State and other Ministers carry out frequent engagements both in and outside London and it is occasionally necessary to cancel such engagements for parliamentary or other ministerial business. Details of cancelled engagements could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

New Cars (Emissions)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of new cars sold in 2003 emitted less than 100g of carbon dioxide per kilometre; and what projection he has made for the percentages that will be allowed for each year until 2012.

David Jamieson: The Powering Future Vehicles (PFV) Strategy, published in 2002, sets a challenging target that by 2012 at least 10 per cent. of new cars sold in the UK will have a fuel efficiency of 100g per kilometre of carbon dioxide (l00g/km CO 2 ) or better. We reported progress towards this target in the second annual report on the delivery of the PFV Strategy, published in October 2004. The percentage of new vehicles sold in 2003 emitting less than 100 g/km CO 2 was less than 0.1 per cent., although 3 per cent. of new cars sold emitted less than 120 g/km CO 2 —a significant increase on the previous year.
	The rate of progress in future years will depend, among other things, on how quickly new technologies are developed and introduced, and on the nature of any further EU-wide targets on new car fuel efficiency. We will monitor the situation closely and keep the existing package of measures under review to ensure that it is delivering the progress required, working closely with stakeholders including the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. The scope for new measures will be considered carefully as part of the Review of the Climate Change Programme which is currently under way.

Newspapers/Periodicals

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was established as a separate department on 29 May 2002. Separate expenditure figures for DfT while subsumed within DTLR are not available for previous years. The total expenditure by DfT(C) for the period from formation until 23 December 2004 was £149,000, to the nearest £1,000. This figure can only be split between newspapers and periodicals at disproportionate cost.
	With effect from 1 November 2004, ODPM's central publications acquisitions service (which provided a service to DfT) ceased operation and responsibility for purchases transferred to individual Divisions within the Department by ODPM as part of its commitment to greater efficiency. Although expenditure information can still be obtained for the whole Department, information on titles purchased is only available centrally for those titles ordered or on active subscription as at 31 October 2004. The current list has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list of titles includes those titles taken by ODPM. Extracting listings for individual Departments can be done only at disproportionate cost.

Parking Charges

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether trades vans servicing private houses have been considered for exemption from local authority parking charges;
	(2)  what categories of vehicles are exempt from parking fines and charges.

Charlotte Atkins: Charges and other conditions applying to designated parking spaces will be set out in the relevant traffic authority's parking order for the spaces concerned. Exemptions from charges, for example for permit holders (usually residents) or for emergency services' and statutory undertakers' vehicles when carrying out their duties, may be included, but it is the authority's responsibility to decide what exemptions, if any, are appropriate in each case. We do not hold information centrally on where particular categories of vehicles, including trade vans servicing private houses, have been considered for, or the subject of, such exemptions.
	Parking fines or penalty charges are payable where vehicles are parked in contravention of the traffic regulation orders, e.g. yellow lines, or parking order conditions. Again it is for the traffic authority to decide whether exemptions, such as those mentioned above, to any parking restrictions should be provided in the orders. In general, any exceptions would usually be kept to a minimum otherwise they could detract from the purpose for which the restrictions were made and make enforcement more difficult. Vehicles covered by such an exemption in the relevant order would not be liable for a fine or penalty.

Single-hulled Tankers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the risk to the marine environment in (i) the Solent and (ii) other UK coastal waters from single-hulled tankers; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have not commissioned or evaluated any recent research on the risk to the marine environment in UK coastal waters from single hull tankers.
	However, the UK has played a key role in both the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the EU in negotiating an acceleration of a programme to phase-out single hull tankers from world trade, while ensuring continuity of energy supply. The IMO has recently agreed to an accelerated programme, under which the large majority of single hull tankers will have been phased out by the end of 2010. Single hull tankers which will be under 25 years of age at the end of 2010 will be allowed to continue in service until the end of 2015, or on reaching age 25 if earlier, but only if they first pass a rigorous assessment of their condition. Based on the IMO agreement, there is a EU Regulation, now in force, which prohibits single hull tankers entering or leaving EU ports and anchorages when carrying heavy grades of oil as cargo.

South Hampshire Rapid Transit Project

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his timetable is for reaching a conclusion on the re-evaluation of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit project; and if he will make a statement.

Charlotte Atkins: A revised proposal was received on 25 November 2004. However, further information is required on the appraisal, financing and procurement before the Department can reach a conclusion. The promoters' advise that this necessary documentation will be supplied during March.

St. Pancras

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will approve the fitting-out of St. Pancras Midland Road Station for use by Thameslink train services to enable this station to be opened with St. Pancras International in mid 2007.

Tony McNulty: It is our intention to carry out the fitting-out of St. Pancras Midland Road Station. No decision has yet been taken on the exact timing of this work.

Stourport Relief Road

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the future of the Stourport relief road project;
	(2)  what funding his Department will make available to build the Stourport relief road.

Charlotte Atkins: No proposal for major scheme funding for the Stourport relief road project has been received by the Department. It would be for Worcestershire county council to decide whether or not they wish to prepare a scheme proposal and, if so, to include broad details in their next Local Transport Plan (LTP) due to be submitted to the Department in provisional form by July 2005. Schemes submitted for funding under the LTP programme are considered in the light of their performance against our appraisal criteria and available resources. In addition, under the proposals set out in our consultation document "Devolving decision making: A consultation on regional funding allocations", we propose to seek regional advice on the relative priority of major transport proposals in the region on the basis of long term regional funding guidelines.

Train Timetables

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response his Department has made to representations received regarding the December timetable changes on routes from Paddington to Maidenhead and Twyford.

Tony McNulty: The Department's response to representations related to the December 2004 timetable changes is that they deliver wider benefits through improvements to punctuality across the First Great Western and First Great Western Link franchises.

Trams

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for further tram networks in cities which have poor public transport systems.

Charlotte Atkins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 693W. Local authorities in a number of cities, are developing proposals for tram networks or improvements to existing systems, including extensions.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

A3 Hindhead

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the South East England Development Agency took to press the case for the A3 Hindhead tunnel to remain in the active roads programme.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	None. The proposed A3 Hindhead improvement scheme remains in our strategic roads programme and has been classified as a scheme of regional importance. This was announced in the Highways Agency's press release of 1 December 2004.

Anti-bribery/Corruption Procedures

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition the Export Credits Guarantee Department uses of the phrase, "sufficient evidence", used in the OECD Action Statement on Bribery and Officially Supported Export Credits.

Douglas Alexander: The reference is to a provision in the OECD Action Statement on Bribery and Corruption and Officially Supported Export Credits which records an agreement that Export Credit Agencies shall not provide cover or support if they discover before doing so sufficient evidence that bribery has been involved in the award of the export contract. The best evidence that such is the case would be an unappealable conviction in a court of law. Short of that, ECGD would have to consider, taking into account all material matters and all the evidence available to it whether it would be reasonable for ECGD to conclude that bribery had been so involved.

Avient

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she (a) had sight of and (b) approved the recent statement by the UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines on Avient; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Yes. Ministers saw and approved the statement on Avient.

Broadband

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Great Britain is broadband enabled, broken down by region.

Mike O'Brien: At the end of June 2004, terrestrial broadband services were available to 90 per cent. of households in the UK. The regional breakdown is set out in the table.
	
		Household coverage—July 2004
		
			 Region Percentage 
		
		
			 East Midlands 88 
			 East of England 86 
			 London 100 
			 North East 95 
			 North West 95 
			 Northern Ireland 75 
			 Scotland 78 
			 South East 93 
			 South West 82 
			 Wales 81 
			 West Midlands 90 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 89 
		
	
	Source:
	Analysys Consulting Limited, July 2004
	Both availability and take-up of terrestrial broadband services are continuing to rise. Latest estimates indicate that availability in the UK has reached 95 per cent. and there are some 6 million broadband subscribers. We aim to reach 99 per cent. this year.

Burma

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the merits of imposing a ban on imports from Burma; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Government have a long-standing policy of not encouraging British companies to trade with Burma and we offer no support to companies that wish to do so.
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 25 June 2003, Official Report, column 1042,
	"we do not believe that trade is appropriate when the regime continues to suppress the basic human rights of its people".
	Through the EU's Common Position on Burma we have imposed a comprehensive programme of targeted measures on the regime. We regularly review the terms and conditions of the Common Position with our EU partners.
	We favour multilateral targeted measures against Burma wherever possible because these have a greater practical impact and send a stronger political signal. We will therefore continue to support multilateral action through the EU's Common Position on Burma.

Canatxx

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions on which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department have communicated with Canatxx Gas Stonage Ltd., Canatxx Energy Ventures Ltd. or a company associated with Canatxx (i) by letter, (ii) by e-mail, (iii) by telephone and (iv) in person; and if she will publish the content of such communication on the departmental website.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The information requested is not immediately available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Events

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by her Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in each of the last two years giving the (i) title, (ii) purpose, (iii) date and (iv) cost of each.

Patricia Hewitt: The organisation of conferences, seminars, workshops and exhibition is the responsibility of individual policy groups. The information requested is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Employment Tribunals

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government will take steps to ensure that employment tribunal awards and private settlements of employment cases brokered by ACAS can be enforced without recourse to legal action by the aggrieved person.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) White Paper "Transforming Public Services: Complaints Redress and Tribunals", published in July 2004, recognised the fact that enforcement of tribunal awards can sometimes pose difficulties. It also pointed out that private settlements of cases, even if brokered by ACAS, have no status beyond that of an ordinary contract. It went on to say:
	"This is unsatisfactory. We will reform these processes so that an award of compensation, whether ordered by the tribunal or agreed between the parties, can be enforced with the minimum of bureaucracy as if it were an order of the civil courts."
	Officials are working closely with their colleagues at DCA toward delivery of this commitment.

Fur

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to combat the illegal international fur trade.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are strongly opposed to the illegal trade in fur skins and we fully support efforts being made through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to address this. We have recently committed some £15,000 to help fund a meeting of the CITES Tiger Enforcement Task Force to co-ordinate action to combat the illicit trade in Asian big cat skins. We have also made £20,000 available to assist the Indian Government in establishing a Wildlife Crime Cell to help address the illegal trade in wildlife in that country.
	At home the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) supports a network of Police Wildlife Crime Officers and Customs Officers responsible for enforcing CITES. There is also a dedicated Customs enforcement team at Heathrow Airport responsible for enforcing the international controls in CITES species. We also monitor the major internet sites and take enforcement action where possible illegal sales of wildlife items are identified. Internet crime is one of the growth areas that I have asked the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit to focus particular attention on.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which 25 constituencies have received most money in payments under the Miners' Compensation Scheme.

Nigel Griffiths: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Constituency Payments(6) Total (£ million) 
		
		
			 Easington 11,813 82.7 
			 Barnsley East and Mexborough 13,452 78.9 
			 Hemsworth 11,999 68.7 
			 Bolsover 12,656 64.6 
			 Sherwood 12,714 62.7 
			 Mansfield 10,878 58.1 
			 Ashfield 11,269 57.4 
			 Bassetlaw 9,638 57.3 
			 Doncaster North 9,105 55.2 
			 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney 7,217 52.8 
			 Ogmore 7,188 51.3 
			 Rhondda 6,625 49.6 
			 Don Valley 8,199 48.2 
			 Cynon Valley 6,464 48.1 
			 Barnsley Central 8,559 48 
			 Wansbeck 7,381 46.7 
			 Pontefract and Castleford 7,481 42.6 
			 Caerphilly 6,083 40.9 
			 Barnsley West and Penistone 7,262 38.7 
			 Houghton and Washington East 5,320 36.6 
			 Islwyn 3,455 35.3 
			 Rother Valley 6,132 35.1 
			 Blaenau Gwent 5,521 34.3 
			 Wentworth 5,892 33.9 
			 Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 4,745 28.8 
		
	
	(6) As at 31 December 2004.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the ratio of deceased to live Miners' Compensation Scheme claims is (a) in each region and (b) overall.

Nigel Griffiths: As of 31 December 2004 the figures are as follows.
	
		
			 Claims Wales Scotland Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire Yorkshire North East Midlands South/ South East Total 
		
		
			 COPD 
			 Live 34,716 12,933 23,036 90,205 53,277 24,164 8,214 246,427 
			 Deceased 57,298 17,302 5,565 116,104 68,645 48,681 10,289 323,882 
			 Total 92,012 30,235 28,601 206,309 121,922 72,845 18,503 570,427 
			  
			 VWF 
			 Live 18,031 9,403 18,241 52,130 41,296 4,812 3,845 147,758 
			 Deceased 2,877 2,012 3,495 7,870 4,374 392 296 21,316 
			 Total 20,908 11,415 21,736 60,000 45,670 5,204 4,141 169,074

CAB Funding

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much central Government funding was provided to Citizens Advice Bureaux in the last year for which figures are available; and how that funding is allocated.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This information is not held centrally in the Department and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, some limited information can be found in Citizens Advice's 2004 annual report.

Post Offices

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 421W, on the post office (rural subsidy), what the average assigned office payment to sub-postmasters is; and how many (a) rural, (b) urban and (c) urban deprived sub-post offices received assigned office payments.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Payment to individual sub-postmasters are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Offices

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) urban and (b) rural (i) sub-post offices and (ii) directly managed post offices are loss-making; and what the total annual loss was in the last year for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Premium Telephone Numbers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer the operators of premium telephone number 090 66 33 6929 to the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services.

Mike O'Brien: ICSTIS is already taking enforcement action against service provider who uses this telephone number as the services on this number are in breach of the ICSTIS Code of Practice. ICSTIS shut down services on this number on 14 January 2005. ICSTIS will adjudicate on this service in the next few weeks. ICSTIS has the powers to fine service providers who are in breach of its Code and bar them from providing services.

WALES

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 753W.

Welsh Regiments

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the renaming of the Welsh infantry regiment to reflect more prominently the names of the Royal Regiment of Wales and the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Peter Hain: I am aware of the strong feelings on this matter and have discussed these with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. I will write to my hon. Friend if there are any developments.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Archaeology

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding her Department has provided for archaeology projects in each of the past seven years.

Richard Caborn: Government funding for the historic environment is channelled through English Heritage. Since 1997–98, English Heritage has distributed the following amounts through its grants programme to support a wide range of archaeology related research, external capacity building and outreach projects:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 5,385,000 
			 1998–99 4,673,000 
			 1999–00 5,050,000 
			 2000–01 4,557,000 
			 2001–02 5,117,000 
			 2002–03 5,473,000 
			 2003–04 5,594,000 
		
	
	English Heritage also receives additional funding from Defra's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. Since 2002–03 it has distributed the following amounts from the Fund to support archaeology projects:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 3,640,000 
			 2003–04 5,184,000

Art Exports

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to place a temporary export licence ban on Damien Hirst's "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" (1991)—the Shark—and what reports she has received of attempts to keep the object in the country.

Estelle Morris: The export controls on objects of cultural interest apply only to objects manufactured or produced more than 50 years before the date of exportation. This means that Damien Hirst's "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" will not require an export licence; and I, therefore, do not have the power to intervene in its export.

Clwyd, South Constituency

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd, South constituency, the effects on Clwyd, South of her Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Richard Caborn: Most of the matters for which the Department is responsible in England have been devolved in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales. However, there are some reserved areas in which the Government has introduced initiatives which affect the Clwyd, South constituency.
	The Licensing Act 2003 (Commencement) Order 2003 repealed those parts of the Licensing Act 1964 which allowed the local government electorate in the counties and county boroughs of Wales to requisition polls to decide whether licensed premises should be allowed to open on Sundays. This has removed the uncertainty which businesses in Wales, including those in Clwyd South, faced, allowing them to exercise long-term planning. It also removes a costly administrative burden on local authorities and an artificial difference in licensing controls between Wales and England, which prevented businesses and customers exercising freedom of choice.
	The Gambling Bill will, when implemented, transfer responsibility for licensing gambling premises to local authorities. Local people and businesses will be able to make representations about applications for licenses and local authorities will be able to decide not to issue licenses for casino premises. These changes will give local communities, including those in Clwyd South, a greater say in the regulation of gambling in their area.
	Information from the National Lottery distributors indicates that since 2 May 1997 Clwyd, South has benefited from over 280 awards totalling over £5.6 million. Of these, 70 awards worth over £1.5 million were made by the New Opportunities Fund which was established by the Government in 1999.

DCMS/EU Co-operation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with the European Commission on the supporting, co-ordinating and complementary action which may be taken by the EU in the field of (a) culture, (b) tourism and (c) sport under article I-17 of the proposed EU constitution.

Richard Caborn: My Department has not undertaken detailed discussions about the new competences in sport and tourism with the European Commission as such discussions would pre-empt the result of the referendum on the Constitutional Treaty.
	 (a) Culture: Concerning the future culture programmes of the EU, my officials have regular meetings with other Member States and the European Commission.
	 (b) Sport: DCMS has not had any bilateral discussions with the Commission. However, UK delegations have attended meetings of EU Sports Directors and meetings of EU Sports Ministers—where the Commission is also represented—at which discussions about future EU action in the field of sport have taken place.
	 (c) Tourism: DCMS has not had any bilateral discussions with the European Commission on the proposed new competence for tourism in the EU Constitutional Treaty. DCMS officials have been present at EU meetings when the topic of the new competence has been discussed in general terms.

Digital Switch-over

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to ensure the revised target date of 2012 for switch off of the analogue signal is met; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: The Government will confirm the timetable for switchover once the few remaining issues relating to digital switchover are resolved and we are satisfied that the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected.
	We are working with broadcasters, Ofcom, leading charities, consumer groups and other stakeholders to determine the most appropriate timetable. This has to meet the interests of consumers and the economy as a whole and be achievable by the broadcasters.

Digital Switch-over

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress the Government have made towards meeting its targets for digital switchover.

Estelle Morris: Great progress has been made. We welcome the fact that Ofcom have issued Digital Replacement Licences to the Commercial Public Service Broadcasters.
	Following the recommendations of the independent Ofcom Consumer panel and Digital Television Consumer Expert Group reports, we are working with leading charities to consider how to best protect the interest of consumers, particularly the most vulnerable.
	Stakeholders are also now working on the structure and remit of a switchover implementation body, which should be in place this year. Digital take-up is well above industry forecasts. Almost 60 per cent. of households are now estimated to have a digital television.

Freedom of Information Act

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the applicability of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Press Complaints Commission; and if she will designate the Press Complaints Commission as a public body for the purposes of the Act.

Estelle Morris: The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) as it is not a public authority. The Government strongly believes that a press free from any state intervention is fundamental to democracy. Designating the PCC a public authority would not be compatible with the Government's support for an independent body overseeing Press self-regulation

Liquor Licensing

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from local authorities concerning the proposed (a) transition fees and (b) annual fees for liquor licensing.

Richard Caborn: The draft fee levels payable under the Licensing Act 2003 were subject to a public consultation which concluded on 23 December 2004. Views from everybody with an interest in fee levels have been considered, including from local authorities. Responses were received from 136 individual local authorities. Separate responses were also received from the Local Government Association and Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS); and from the Association of London Government; on behalf of local authorities.

Lottery Funding (Sunderland)

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to visitor attractions in Sunderland; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: DCMS supports the tourism industry as a whole. For example, visitor attractions in Sunderland will benefit from my Department's funding for VisitBritain, which for 2004–05 includes £35.5 million for marketing Britain as a tourism destination overseas, and £10.4 million for marketing England to the domestic tourism market.
	The Regional Development Agencies have strategic responsibility for tourism in the regions. In 2004–05 my Department is contributing £330,000 to the Government's funding for One North East.
	Attractions in Sunderland have also benefited directly from National Lottery funding.

PSA Targets

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was to (a) her Department, (b) other Government Departments and (c) Government sponsored bodies were of (i) formulating, (ii) implementing and (iii) assessing her Department's public service agreement targets four and five, as set out in the departmental annual report 2004.

Richard Caborn: The information is not available in the form requested. The Department attributes expenditure incurred in delivering its objectives in schedule 5 of the resource accounts. Expenditure incurred on the public service agreement (PSA) targets springing from these objectives is included within expenditure allocated to each objective. Such expenditure, however, is not separately identifiable in the expenditure figures in schedule 5, and could be provided in the detail required in the question only at disproportionate cost.
	The PSA targets referred to in the 2004 departmental annual report relate to the spending review 2000 period. The expenditure incurred in delivering the objectives for the 2002 sending review period were reported in the 2003–04 resource accounts, which were not available at the time the 2004 annual report was published.

Underwater Heritage

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Government will ratify the Unesco Convention on Underwater Heritage; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The UK Government has no current plans to sign the Unesco Convention but has adopted the annex of the Convention as best practice for archaeology.

Underwater Heritage

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason the Government has not yet ratified the Unesco Convention on Underwater Heritage; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The UK Government did not ratify the Unesco Convention because we would be required to protect all underwater cultural heritage over 100 years old. This is not practical as there are over 10,000 known wreck sites in UK waters.
	We believe that it is better to focus our efforts and resources on protecting the most important examples of our underwater cultural heritage.
	We have however shown commitment to archaeological best practice by adopting the annex to this Convention and ratifying the Valetta Convention (Treaty of Malta also known as the European Convention on Protection of the Archaeological Heritage 1992).

Video Violence

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of measures in place to prevent children from gaining access to violent films and video games;
	(2)  what legal sanctions may be imposed against retailers who sell or supply 18 films or video games with an 18 classification to children;
	(3)  what assessment her Department has undertaken of possible links between violent crime and violent television programmes and video games.

Estelle Morris: Access by children to films in video/DVD format and computer games is controlled by the Video Recordings Act 1984, under which supplying videos, DVDs or games classified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to those who do not meet the age requirements is punishable by a fine of up to £5,000, a prison sentence of up to six months, or both. The Cinemas Act 1985, provides for the licensing of cinemas by local authorities, and under these arrangements controls on access by children to cinemas can be stipulated. In 2003, only 32 (or 2 per cent.) of the 1,484 computer games published depicted 'gross violence' and therefore required legal classification by the BBFC. Of these, just seven were considered to be suitable for only those aged over 18.
	Local trading standards officers have enforcement powers under the 1984 Act. On 10 December 2004, my officials met members of the Trading Standards Institute and the Local Government Association along with representatives of the retail sector to discuss how the sale of violent computer games could be better regulated. Further discussions on enforcement are to be held.
	A great deal of research has been carried out on whether violent films, television or games have an impact on real-life behaviour, but there is much conflicting opinion. The Department has recently commissioned a review of the existing research to determine whether the alleged link between playing violent computer games and real-life violence has any substance.

Welsh Television

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure that ITV Wales continues to produce at least 10 hours of original Welsh programming and programmes for S4C until 2012.

Estelle Morris: ITV Wales has no obligation to produce Welsh-language programming but is currently required to produce a minimum of 10 hours a week (averaged over a calendar year) of programmes of particular interest to people in Wales for showing on ITV. These programmes are broadcast in English. Ofcom are currently considering the sustainability of this obligation as part of their Public Service Broadcasting review.

DEFENCE

BAE Systems

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what work BAE Systems carried out at (a) RAF Cottismore and (b) RAF Marham in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004;
	(2)  what contracts were entered into with BAE Systems at RAF Cottesmore in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Adam Ingram: The Tornado Integrated Project Team provides logistic support to the entire Tornado GR4/F3 departmental fleet. The information requested is not held in a format that would allow identification of work specifically carried out by BAE Systems, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In January 2003, BAE Systems was awarded a contract to form the Joint Repair Management Team (JRMT) at RAF Cottesmore. The contract ended in June 2004. The JRMT was replaced by the Joint Repair Organisation (JRO) and a contract was awarded to BAE Systems in June 2004 to form the new JRO.
	In September 2004 a contracted task was raised against the Harrier Post Design Services contract to provide eight BAE Systems personnel to work on the Harrier Pulse Line.
	An enabling contract for the Harrier Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme (JUMP) was awarded to BAE Systems on 15 November 2004.

BAE Systems

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many BAE Systems personnel worked at (a) RAF Cottesmore and (b) RAF Marham in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004.

Adam Ingram: In 2003 seven BAE Systems personnel were working permanently at RAF Cottesmore in support of contracted tasks. In 2004 a total of 34 BAE Systems staff were similarly employed although not all of those individuals were present for the full calendar year.
	Information on the number of BAE Systems personnel working at RAF Marham in 2003 and 2004 respectively is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Brunei

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what reason the three offshore patrol vessels built by BAE Systems and endorsed by the Royal Navy for the Royal Brunei Navy are subject to arbitration;
	(2)  what the total value is of the (a) contract now and (b) through life support for the three offshore patrol vessels built for the Royal Brunei Navy.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The current value of the contract and the costs of through-life support for these vessels are a matter for the parties to the contract, BAE Systems and the Government of Brunei. I can confirm that the Royal Navy, with the agreement of both parties, undertook last year an independent study of the progress of the programme, but it would be inappropriate to comment on the continuing discussions between the parties about the acceptance of the vessels.

Camouflage Garment Contract

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of camouflage garments and how many of each type had been delivered up to 31 December 2004 under the terms of his Department's camouflage garment contract.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 20 January 2005
	It is assumed that my hon. Friend refers to the award of a contract for Cut and Sewn Garments. As stated in reply to his earlier question of 9 December 2004, Official Report, column 694W, deliveries of combat clothing under this contract are not due to commence until early 2005.

Camouflage Garment Contract

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the officials who conducted the most recent review of his Department's contract awarded for the manufacture of camouflage garments were the same as those responsible for making the award.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 20 January 2005
	An independent review was carried out by a senior civil servant outside of the business area associated with the award of the contract.

Camouflage Garment Contract

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the scale of subsidies given to the China people's liberation factory 3533 by the Chinese Government in connection with his Department's contract for camouflage garment manufacture.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The Ministry of Defence does not hold this information as the Prime Contractor is not required to provide this detail under the terms of the contract.

Damaged Harriers

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost was of the damage to Harrier air frames at RAF Cottesmore in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Adam Ingram: In 2003 and 2004, no Harrier aircraft was damaged while undergoing repair and maintenance at RAF Cottesmore.

Falcon

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the early introduction into service of Falcon is required to secure the operational benefits of network enabled capability.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The capability provided by Falcon will contribute significantly to delivering the operational benefits of network enabled capability (NEC), along with a number of other capabilities. But the exact timing of the introduction into service of any particular capability will not determine the overall success of the long term NEC initiative.

Fire Service

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost incurred by his Department as a result of the strikes by firefighters in 2003 was; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence provided emergency fire cover during the national firefighters' strikes of 2002 and 2003 in response to a request from ODPM. ODPM agreed in advance to reimburse MOD's marginal costs. This has now been done and the bill amounted to slightly over £75 million excluding VAT.
	Additionally, ODPM requested MOD assistance when strike action was projected in the summer of 2004. Although that dispute was resolved without strikes taking place, MOD incurred preparatory costs of £602,000 excluding VAT. These too have been claimed from ODPM.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Programme

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to finalise the endorsement of preferred bidder status for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The Ministry of Defence is currently considering the progress made to date with Air Tanker in single bidder discussions. We expect to make a decision in the coming months on whether Air Tanker should be accorded preferred bidder status for this complex and important PFI competition. We shall of course ensure that the House is kept fully informed of significant developments.

Gibraltar Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Department received the views of the solicitor representing the Gibraltar Service Police Association on the intention to deduct moneys from police officers arising from the dispute about the payment of rent allowances and the application of the analogue principle; for what reasons a substantive reply has not been sent; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 19 January 2005
	Ministry of Defence officials in Gibraltar first received correspondence from Marrache and Company, the solicitors acting for the Gibraltar Services Police Association (GSPSA), in February 2004. MOD officials have been involved in a long exchange of correspondence with the solicitors in which they have consistently set out the Department's intention to recover the over-payment. Marrache and Company have had a copy of the letter from MOD officials to the GSPSA, which sets out the Department's position in detail since February 2004.

Infantry Future Army Structure

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether Sandhurst Officer Cadets will be able to apply for the individual battalions rather than the new regiments when the new Infantry Future Army Structure is in place;
	(2)  whether the individual battalions in the new regiments within the Prince of Wales, Kings and Scottish Divisions will be allowed to recruit officers in the new Infantry Future Army Structure.

Adam Ingram: Recruitment of officer cadets under the Infantry Future Army Structure will be by regiment, rather than individual battalion. Recruits will remain entitled to state their interests and preferences, and, although every effort will be made to accommodate each recruit, there can be no guarantee that these will be met.

Infantry Future Army Structure

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Infantry battalions will have training time free of operational call up when the Infantry Future Army Structure is in place.

Adam Ingram: The Army is implementing, under Future Army Structures, a strategy to deliver both training and commitments known as the Force Operations and Readiness Mechanism (FORM); a replacement for the Formation Readiness Cycle. All Army units, including Infantry battalions, will programme their training and operational commitment activities according to the principles of FORM.
	FORM enables the Army to meet its outputs (force elements ready for both programmed operations and contingent operations) from within the force structure. The sequence of activity for any one force element, such as an Infantry battalion, is in five separate six month phases: recuperation; unit and battlegroup training; formation training; high readiness; and an operational deployment.

Inglis Barracks

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects British Forces Post Office to vacate their site at Mill Hill, Inglis Barracks; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: A project is in place to provide a new facility at RAF Northolt for the British Forces Post Office. It is planned that this facility will be occupied during 2007, at which time Inglis Barracks will be vacated.

Iran

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Iranian authorities have returned the Royal Marine boats, weapons and equipment that were seized during the recent Gulf hostilities; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Iranian authorities have not returned the boats and equipment which they seized on 21 June. We continue to press for their return.

Royal Regiment of Scotland

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the future Royal Regiment of Scotland will be able to maintain the establishment for five battalions under present recruiting levels.

Adam Ingram: The ability to man the five battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will depend on a number of factors. It is not possible to predict its establishment until it is clear what roles the battalions of the regiment will be assigned. Recruitment to the Scottish Division has recently been slightly depressed not least by coverage of 'Save the Regiment' campaigns. However, assuming that the establishment of the future battalions remains broadly similar to current levels and a return to the recruiting levels achieved in recent years, levels of enlistment to the Royal Regiment of Scotland should be sufficient to sustain five battalions.

Secondments

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the people working within his Department on secondment from the private sector, broken down by (a) the organisation or industry they came from and (b) the policy responsibilities they have been given.

Ivor Caplin: The information is as follows:
	Inward Secondments
	There are currently 24 staff seconded in to the Ministry of Defence from the Private Sector. Information available on these staff is as follows:
	
		
			  Parent organisation Area of responsibility within MOD Number of staff 
		
		
			 BAE Systems Procurement 1 
			 AWE Project Management 2 
			 Lockheed Martin Project Management 1 
			 Rolls Royce Procurement 1 
			 Masons Finance 2 
			 Alstom Engineering 1 
			 Qinetiq Procurement 1 
			 Burgess Salmon Legal 1 
			 British Aerospace Defence Export Sales  Organisation 1 
			 Partnerships UK Commercial 1 
			 Grant Thornton Logistics 1 
			 PricewaterhouseCooper Logistics 1 
			 BAE Systems Logistics 2 
			 Babtie Group Ltd. Logistics 2 
			 Halcrow Group Logistics 3 
			 DML Logistics 2 
			 MS Ltd. Scientific Research 1

Staff Vacancies

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on advertising staff vacancies in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Ivor Caplin: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tsunami (Military Assistance)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason flights scheduled to deliver aid to areas affected by the tsunami in Asia have been held up at RAF Lyneham.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 20 January 2005
	Flights to deliver aid to the areas affected by the tsunami have not been held up. The Ministry of Defence is carrying out operations as tasked by DFID. DFID has agreed to transport appropriate relief items procured by Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) agencies in response to specific and stated needs on the ground. The MOD originally made available one C17 and five C130 (Hercules) aircraft to assist the relief operation. In fact, C17s and KC1 (Tristar) aircraft have been used more extensively due to the distances and types of cargo involved.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment Services

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes are (a) under way and (b) planned in Greater London in the provision of employment and related services.

Malcolm Wicks: The rollout of fully integrated Jobcentre Plus offices is continuing, with over 500 new style offices providing a modern, customer focussed service to over a million people every week.
	Over 40 new Jobcentre Plus offices are already delivering to customers in London with the remainder to be rolled out in the next two years.

Employment Advisers

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the role that placing employment advisers within GPs' surgeries might have on encouraging people into work.

Alan Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg).

Customer Services

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress being made to improve customer service in those offices in his Department which work directly with the general public.

Malcolm Wicks: In recent years DWP has received massive investment to enable us to deliver an improved, modernised and more efficient service to our customers—particularly those staff dealing directly with the public. For example, we are putting an extra 10,000 staff in to front line roles. Roles like Jobcentre Plus Personal Advisers who offer personal, tailored services to help get individuals back into work and build on our, already, record levels of employment.

Disability Discrimination Act

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support is provided for people with disabilities taking action under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Maria Eagle: Under provisions in the Disability Rights Commission Act 1999, the DRC provides advice and information to disabled people about how they may enforce their rights under the Disability Discrimination Act. The Commission has powers to provide assistance in relation to proceedings in certain circumstances, and it operates a conciliation service for disputes under Parts 3 and 4 of the Act.
	Disabled people taking action under the DDA may also obtain advice from sources such as disability organisations, trade unions and Citizens Advice Bureaux.

State Pension

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women were in receipt of state retirement pension in the Coventry, South constituency in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Men Women 
		
		
			 1999 6,300 10,200 
			 2004 6,000 10,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	4. Figures show all people getting a state pension i.e. a Category A, B, C or D state pension or graduated retirement benefit.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre 5 per cent. sample as at 30 September 1999 and 31 March 2004.

Older Workers

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to encourage and help older workers in employment.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government is committed to tackling age discrimination in employment and extending opportunities for older workers. New Deal 50 plus is part of the campaign to improve the employment prospects of older people and encourage them to return to work.
	Budget 2004 announced a new high profile national guidance campaign to raise employers' awareness of, and ability to adopt, flexible employment and retirement opportunities in order to increase the recruitment, retention and training of older workers.

Pension Credit

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how many pensioners are not claiming the pension credit to which they are entitled.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not currently available. We plan to publish definitive National Statistics on take-up and entitlement for the first six months of pension credit by the end of 2005.
	I am pleased to inform my hon. Friend that as at the end of last year 4,072 pensioner households (4,870 individuals) were receiving pension credit, with an average weekly payment of £41.68 per household.

Pension Credit

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many old age pensioners within the Harwich constituency are in receipt of pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: At 31 October 2004, 7,125 pensioner households in Harwich, comprising 9,010 individuals, were in receipt of pension credit.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60. 3. Pension credit figures are available for 31 October 2004 as the final output of processes that were put in place to deliver special monthly reporting during the first year of the roll-out of pension credit. As Parliament was told in the statement accompanying the last such report, data will in future be available on a quarterly basis, in line with standard departmental practice.

Action for Employment

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) grants he has made to and (b) contracts he has made with Action for Employment (A4e) in each of the last five years; and what conditions apply to the use of such grants for the production of marketing materials.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 13 January 2005
	Around 200 contracts have been placed with Action for Employment since 2001. A list of these contracts has been placed in the Library.
	Information on contracts with Action for Employment prior to the formation of the Department for Work and Pensions is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department has not made any grants to Action for Employment.

Benefit Fraud

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of measures his Department has taken to tackle benefit fraud.

Malcolm Wicks: We have made excellent progress in the fight against fraud. By March 2004 we had reduced fraud in the two main working age benefits by half.
	Since 1997 we have saved the equivalent of over £1 billion through the effectiveness of our counter-fraud measures. And that can only be good news for the taxpayer.

Child Support Agency

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what systems are in place (a) to assess the relative urgency of cases referred to the MP's hotline in the South West Business Unit of the Child Support Agency and (b) to prioritise cases accordingly.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 24 January 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what systems are in place (a) to assess the relative urgency of cases referred to the MP's hotline in the South West Business Unit of the Child Support Agency and (b) to prioritise them accordingly.
	All cases referred by Members of Parliament, including those referred to the 'MP Hotline', are regarded as high priority. If a case is drawn to the Agency's attention as one of a critical nature the resolution manager will engage with it immediately and if necessary deploy additional resource to investigate it.

Child Support Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in each business unit of the Child Support Agency have been diverted to deal with complaints about the new system for assessing claims.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. David Drew, dated 24 January 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in each business unit of the Child Support Agency have been diverted to deal with complaints about the new system for assessing claims.
	I do not have the information you seek. I can however say that there are currently around 870 staff within the Agency employed either directly in teams handling complaints and/or teams handling correspondence from members of parliament, stakeholder groups or clients who may have earlier made a complaint. The broad analysis between current business units is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Midlands 140 
			 South East 110 
			 Scotland and North East England 120 
			 South West 110 
			 Wales and North West 180 
			 Eastern 210

Child Support Agency

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects Child Support Agency (CSA) cases in Sittingbourne and Sheppey on the old CSA system to be transferred to the new system.

Chris Pond: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green), on 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 568W.

Child Support Agency

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when C. R. Ward, CSA reference 1036830004, will be switched from the old to the new CSA system.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Derek Wyatt
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when C. R. Ward Child Support Agency reference 1036830004 will be switched from the old to the new Child Support Agency system.
	As details about individual cases are confidential I will write to you separately about this case.

EU Presidency

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Government's priorities for the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will be during the United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The main priorities of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (ESPHCA) Council are listed in the UK-Luxembourg Annual Operating Programme for 2005 which is available in the Library of the House.
	The programme plans to make progress on:
	finalising the Joint Council and Commission Employment Report 2004–2005;
	the Regulation to implement the Social Security co-ordinating Regulation;
	seeking an agreement on the proposal to establish a community programme for employment and social strategy (PROGRESS);
	seeking an agreement on the directive amending Directive 2003/88/EC on working time.
	The programme aims to take forward:
	the directive regarding the exposure of workers to optical radiation;
	the directive under Article 141 which merges and recasts previous equality directives;
	focussing on new Health Strategy.
	The specific issues appearing on the Council Agenda during the UK Presidency will depend on progress made by the preceding Luxembourg Presidency.

Homelessness

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to reduce the disincentives to re-enter employment for homeless households placed in expensive temporary accommodation.

Chris Pond: We are, together with other agencies, already working hard to ensure that as much as possible is being done to remove the multiple barriers to employment faced by the homeless.
	The Department provides a range of services to help homeless people find employment, from support from personal advisers based in Jobcentres to specific initiatives such as Progress2work, Progress2work-LinkUP and Action Teams for Jobs. Additionally, homeless people can have early access to the New Deals and other national programmes.
	We recognise that temporary accommodation attracts high management charges that, in turn, lead to high rents. These can act as a barrier to employment. We have no current plans for any significant changes to the housing benefit rules for those in temporary accommodation in the short term. However, we are exploring with colleagues across government all possible options to address this issue.
	One of these options involves pilot work to look at the "block grant" approach, whereby tenants pay an affordable rent for their accommodation, assisted through the housing benefit scheme where appropriate, with the extra costs funded by way of a direct central Government grant.
	The Government are involved in a project run by the Greater London Authority to test the effects of a lower rent together with increased training opportunities and employment advice for people living in temporary accommodation.

Incapacity Benefit

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage people claiming incapacity benefit back into employment.

Maria Eagle: We estimate that the Pathways pilots have so far helped 8,300 people into work. From October this year we will extend the programme to cover about a third of the country, offering help to nearly 900,000 people on incapacity benefits. My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that her constituency will be included in this extension.

Incapacity Benefit

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to reform incapacity benefit.

Maria Eagle: The majority of people who start claiming incapacity benefits want, and expect, to go back into employment.
	That is why we are fully focused on providing better help and support for people on incapacity benefits.
	Pathways to Work is helping people to do just that and from October this year we will extend the programme to cover about a third of the country, enabling us to offer this help to nearly 900,000 people on incapacity benefits.
	We will publish further details shortly in our 5-Year Plan about our longer-term ambitions for incapacity benefits.

Incapacity Benefit

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his Oral Answer of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 1386, on incapacity benefit, what progress he has made with his investigation into the rules on permitted work for claimants of incapacity benefit.

Maria Eagle: On 14 December, we published the report "A Stepping Stone to Employment" with the findings of the independent research commissioned by my Department into the first two years of operation of the permitted work rules. Copies of the report are available in the Library.
	The permitted work rules allow people with health conditions and disabilities to try out paid work while remaining on benefits, as a stepping stone to full-time work. The research showed that people on incapacity benefits participating in permitted work have been helped to return to full-time jobs and many of those surveyed found that their health conditions were not the barriers to work that they originally thought.
	The Chancellor announced changes to the rules in the pre-Budget report based on the key findings of the research. Our overall intention is to bring more people into permitted work with the eventual aim of progressing into full-time employment. Therefore, we will be introducing measures to improve permitted work by raising greater awareness of the provision and encouraging more people to take advantage of the scheme; there will be more regular face-to-face contact with personal advisers and staff will get new guidance and training materials. The rules will be simplified by allowing all participants an initial period of 52 weeks.
	However, we are also acknowledging the position of those least likely to progress into full-time work. We are exploring ways to allow people with progressive conditions to be able to continue permitted work beyond the initial 52 weeks without being limited to earnings of £20.

Lie Detectors

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the value of using lie detector technology when assessing benefits claims.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to use lie detectors on benefit claimants;
	(2)  what his policy is on whether the possible use of lie detectors in connection with benefit claims should apply (a) through random sampling and (b) to volunteers only;
	(3)  on whom his Department has market-tested lie detectors; and what level of accuracy was shown in the results.

Chris Pond: We aim to keep up to date with the latest technology which impacts upon benefit delivery and are therefore aware of voice stress analysis as used by various insurance companies. However, we have made no formal assessment of the value of this technology and have no current plans to introduce such measures.

Lie Detectors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he has received on the potential use of lie detectors with regard to benefit claimants; and if he will place a copy of such advice in the Library.

Chris Pond: No advice on the use of voice stress analysis has been received by DWP. We are in the early stages of conducting preliminary investigations into how voice stress analysis technology is currently used in the private sector.
	No formal assessment has been made and we have no plans at present to introduce such measures.

Ministerial Engagements

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since his appointment.

Alan Johnson: There is no record kept of cancelled engagements in my ministerial diary. When engagements have had to be cancelled, wherever possible we try to re-instate them at a later date. All engagements are subject to ministerial and parliamentary business.

New Deal

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have benefited from the New Deal in the Harwich constituency since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The New Deal has been very successful in helping more than 1.2 million people into work including 1,800 in the Harwich constituency.
	Information on the number of people who have participated in and the number helped into work by each New Deal programme in Harwich is in the table.
	
		Number of people who have participated in and who have found work through New Deal programmes in the Harwich constituency(7)
		
			 Programme Number of people starting the programme Number of people gaining a job 
		
		
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 990 500 
			 New Deal for Young People 1,340 850 
			 New Deal 25 plus 620 230 
			 New Deal 50 plus(8) — 220 
			 Total 2,950 1,800 
		
	
	(7) All data are to September 2004, except for New Deal 50 plus which is to March 2003.
	(8) Figures for New Deal 50 plus relate to starts to the Employment Credit element of the programme. No information is currently available on the number of individual starts to New Deal 50 plus.
	Notes:
	1. New Deal for Disabled People and New Deal for Partners is not available at parliamentary constituency level.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and therefore components may not necessarily sum to totals.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database, DWP Information and Analysis Directorate.

Poor Pensioners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) single female pensioners, (b) single male pensioners and (c) pensioner couples are living in poverty.

Malcolm Wicks: Poverty is about more than low income; is also about other important factors in their lives—their health, housing and the quality of their environment. The sixth annual "Opportunity for all" report (Cm 6239), published in September 2004, sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.
	Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2002–03".
	Information about low income among pensioners in Great Britain in 2002–03 is in the table.
	
		Proportion of pensioners living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of median, 2002–03
		
			 Low-income threshold/family type Before housing costs below 60 per cent. median After housing costs below 60 per cent. median 
		
		
			 (a) Single female pensioner 22 21 
			 (b) Single male pensioner 17 17 
			 (c) Pensioner couple 21 23 
		
	
	Further Information about low income is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2002–03", a copy of which is available in the Library.

Poor Pensioners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) single female pensioners, (b) single male pensioners and (c) pensioner couples who would be in poverty if the basic state pension was paid at its current level to all pensioners.

Malcolm Wicks: Information in the format requested is unavailable.
	Estimates of the number of pensioners with low income under a different policy, such as that described in the question, are subject to a high degree of uncertainty. However, using the Department's Policy Simulation Model for 2004–05 it has been estimated that the effect of paying the maximum rate of basic state pension to all pensioners is a reduction in the order of five percentage points of the proportion of pensioner couples with incomes below 60 per cent. of median income, on both the "before housing costs" and on the "after housing costs" measures. The proportion of single female pensioners and single male pensioners on low income is estimated to remain broadly unchanged as a result of paying the full amount of basic state pension to all pensioners.

Post Office Card Account

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what investigations he has made into the reliability and efficiency of the Post Office Card Account's computer system; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: A contract exists between Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Post Office Ltd. (POL) for the provision of the Post Office card account service to agreed service standards. Since April 2003 DWP has successfully made over 67 million payments to Post Office card accounts and as at December 2004 over 4 million card accounts have been opened. Throughout the period DWP has been liaising with POL, monitoring the performance of the service against service standards on an on-going basis.
	Since April 2003 there have been a small number of service incidents that have briefly affected payment to DWP customers. On these occasions there has been close contact with POL to understand the problem, to ensure action was being taken in line with comprehensive continuity arrangements included in the contract to restore the service quickly, and to ensure that remedial action has been taken and any lessons learned acted upon.

Post Office Card Account

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been unable to collect their pensions due to breakdowns of the Post Office card account computer system since its introduction; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The Information is not available in the form requested. Since April 2003, when the Post Office card account system was introduced, there have been a small number of incidents that have briefly affected payments to the Department's customers. These incidents have caused some inconvenience to customers and delay in withdrawing benefit from accounts. It is not possible to say how many customers were temporarily unable to collect their pensions at the Post Office as a result.

Social Fund

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets have been set for processing new social fund claims in each year since 2001.

Chris Pond: Jobcentre Plus has a number of Key Management Indicators (KMI) with which it measures performance, including that of the Social Fund.
	The Social Fund KMI up to April 2004 related to the actual average clearance time (AACT) for Community Care Grants, this was set at nine days.
	From April 2004 the Social Fund KMI included additional elements as follows.
	
		
			 Key management indicators  
		
		
			 Social Fund Accuracy 75 per cent. 
			 Community Care Grant AACT 9 days 
			 Budgeting loans AACT 8 days 
			 Crisis loans AACT 2 days 
			 Funeral payments AACT 16 days 
			 Sure Start maternity Grants AACT 5 days 
			 Internal Reviews AACT 10 days 
		
	
	Prior to April 2004 there were no nationally set KMIs for elements for the Social Fund other than Community Care Grants, however, many districts monitored performance at a local level.

Youth Unemployment

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the most recent figures issued by Eurostat are for youth unemployment in each EU member state.

Chris Pond: The annual unemployment, employment and activity rates for populations aged 15–24 most recently released by Eurostat are in the table.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Aged 15–24 unemployment rate Aged 15–24 employment rate Aged 15–24 economically active 
		
		
			 Austria 7.2 51 55.5 
			 Belgium 21.5 27.4 35.0 
			 Cyprus 10.6 37.6 41.3 
			 Czech Republic 18.6 30 36.8 
			 Denmark 10.3 59.6 65.6 
			 Estonia 22.9 29.3 36.9 
			 EU 18.3 36.7 45.0 
			 EU15 15.8 39.7 47.2 
			 Finland 21.8 39.7 50.7 
			 France 20.2 29.9 37.4 
			 Germany 11.1 44 49.1 
			 Greece 26.3 25.5 34.5 
			 Hungary 13.1 26.8 31.0 
			 Ireland 8.3 48 52.8 
			 Italy 27 25.2 34.6 
			 Latvia 17.6 31.5 38.4 
			 Lithuania 27.2 22.5 30.0 
			 Luxembourg 10.4 *29.7 *32.7 
			 Malta 19.8 *51 *59.6 
			 Netherlands 6.7 67.9 72.6 
			 Poland 41.1 21.2 36.4 
			 Portugal 14.4 38.7 45.3 
			 Slovak Republic 32.9 27.4 41.1 
			 Slovenia 15.9 29.1 35.2 
			 Spain 22.7 33.4 43.2 
			 Sweden 13.4 41.2 47.7 
			 United Kingdom 12.3 55.5 63.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for 2003 except for * which are 2002.
	2. The figures are published in Employment in Europe 2004 at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/2004/sep/eie2004_en.html
	3. The UK has a youth (15–24) activity rate of 63.3 per cent., a youth employment rate of 55.5 per cent. and a youth unemployment rate of 12.3 per cent.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast Agreement

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what amendments he expects will need to be proposed to the Belfast Agreement as a consequence of the adoption of the 'Proposals by the British and Irish Governments for a Comprehensive Agreement.'

Paul Murphy: As I said in this House on 9 December, the Agreement was not set in stone when first signed and it was clearly always the intention that certain elements would be open to change; the commitment to review and report on its operation, which was written into the Agreement itself, would have made no sense otherwise. Equally, certain fundamental aspects of the Agreement have always been regarded by the Governments and the other parties who supported it as fundamental, and not open to change.
	We do not envisage any textual amendment of the Agreement at all. But, as the hon. Lady will have seen, our proposals would involve a number of changes in the way the Agreement operates.

Children's Fund

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact of the Children's Fund on service development in the Province.

Ian Pearson: The Children's Fund has provided time-bounded service development funding through both the statutory and the voluntary and community sectors. Two statutory rounds of funding, one in April 2001 and the other in June 2002, provided a total of £20.5 million in support of 26 projects. A further allocation of some £17 million was announced on 5 March 2003 to the voluntary and community sector funding 101 projects over three years commencing 1 April 2003.
	While there will be no new funding via the Children's Fund, £15 million has been allocated in the recent Budget for a Capital Modernisation Fund to which children's organisations will be able to apply for support.

Civil Servants

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of the Department of (a) Education, (b) Social Development, (c) Regional Development, (d) Culture Arts and Leisure, (e) Environment, (f) the First and Deputy First Minister, (g) Education and Learning, (h) Health, Personal Social Services and Safety, (i) Enterprise, Trade and Investment, (j) Agriculture and Rural Development and (k) Finance and Personnel have been subject to disciplinary proceedings in the last 12 months; and what the total workforce is of each Department.

Ian Pearson: During the last 12 months (January to December 2004), a total of 325 members of staff working in the Departments listed were subject to disciplinary proceedings. The breakdown for each Department, which includes staff working in executive agencies, together with the total workforce for each, is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of staff subject to disciplinary proceedings (January-December 2004) Total staff in post at 1 October 2004 
		
		
			 (a) Education 1 688 
			 (b) Social Development 224 8,239 
			 (c) Regional Development 24 4,851 
			 (d) Culture, Arts and Leisure 1 454 
			 (e) Environment 4 2,640 
			 (f) Office of the First Minister and  Deputy First Minister Nil 422 
			 (g) Employment and Learning 11 1,802 
			 (h) Health, Social Services and Public  Safety 35 1,049 
			 (i) Enterprise, Trade and Investment 2 757 
			 (j) Agriculture and Rural Development 20 4,251 
			 (k) Finance and Personnel 3 3,041 
			 Totals 325 28,194

Londonderry Airport

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will announce his decision on the funding requests from Londonderry city council regarding Londonderry airport.

John Spellar: I hope that an announcement can be made soon. Issues relating to the economic benefits to the northwest of investment in the airport, options for governance of the airport and state aid are still being considered.

Ministerial Engagements

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004.

Mr. Murphy: There is no record kept of cancelled engagements in Northern Ireland Office Minister's diaries. When engagements have had to be cancelled, wherever possible we try to re-instate them at a later date. All engagements are subject to ministerial and parliamentary business.

Parliamentary Questions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what target his Department sets for the maximum acceptable time to respond in full to a parliamentary question; and what percentage of answers given by his Department failed to meet this target in each parliamentary session from 1997–98 to 2003–04.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many written questions for his Department were unanswered when Parliament prorogued; and how many of the unanswered questions were tabled in each of the previous months of the 2003–04 session.

Paul Murphy: I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 30 November 2004, Official Report, column 62W.
	Information is not held in the format requested. While it is not always possible, the Northern Ireland Office, including the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration, aims to answer all ordinary written questions within one working week and all named day questions on the day named for answer. An average of 75 per cent. of questions were answered on time in the 2003–04 session. Information is not readily available for the 1997–98 session.

Water Industry

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the condition of Northern Ireland's water infrastructure; and what the main cause was of the failure of that infrastructure to meet EU Directive standards.

John Spellar: The information is as follows:
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 20 January 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary Question about the condition of Northern Ireland's water infrastructure and the main cause of the failure of that infrastructure to meet EU Directive standards (208414). I have been asked to reply as the issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	Water Service's second Asset Management Plan (NIAMP2), which was completed in 2003, identified that £2.9 billion needs to be invested over the next 20 years to modernise the existing water and sewerage infrastructure. NIAMP2 assessed the condition of the Water Service's above ground assets including treatment works, pumping stations, etc. and less than 5 per cent. were considered to be in poor condition or functionally unsound. While the condition of the above ground assets is generally good, many of the current treatment works were not designed to meet the more stringent standards associated with current EU Directives. The upgrading of water and wastewater treatment works accounts for £1 billion of the total investment required. It is much more difficult to define the condition of below ground assets, but use of an industry recognised statistical model identified an investment need for this asset group of almost double that required for above ground assets. Over two-thirds of this below ground investment is attributable to keeping the networks in a serviceable condition over the 20 year period.
	The failure of the water and sewerage infrastructure to meet current EU Directives relates mainly to the fact that many of the current treatment works need to be upgraded. New treatment processes associated with new technology are often needed to meet the quality standards associated with current EU Directives. Priority is at present being given to upgrading water and wastewater treatment works and it is planned to accelerate spending on network refurbishment within the next few years as the treatment works upgrading programme nears completion.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academy Schools

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanisms are used to monitor academy schools; by whom they are inspected; and what sanctions can be applied to them.

Stephen Twigg: All Academies receive a monitoring inspection visit from HMI before they are inspected under section 3, deemed 10 arrangements when there is published inspection report. All Academies are inspected within three years of opening, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Academies, like all schools, will be subject to the new national inspection arrangements from September 2005.
	The Secretary of State can intervene where an academy is in breach of its funding agreement or where she has concerns about its management or performance. These interventions include appointing additional governors to the governing body, withholding payments to the Academy, appointing auditors or, if necessary by terminating the funding agreement.

Academy Schools

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which section within her Department is responsible for academy schools; how many staff are involved; and how many are (a) civil servants and (b) external staff.

Stephen Twigg: Academies Division within the Department is responsible for Academies. There are currently 70 staff in the Academies Division of whom 45 are civil servants and 25 are external staff. Other staff within the Department also work for some of their time on the Academies Programme, including staff dealing with financial and legal issues and architectural advisers.

Child Care

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has further to subsidise child care places in nurseries in (a) deprived areas and (b) areas where parents have low incomes; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The 10-Year Childcare Strategy, published in December 2004, set out the Government's vision for every child to have the best start in life and for parents to have more choice about how to balance work and family life.
	Our long-term aim is for affordable, flexible, high quality child care to be available for all families with children under 14. We are making substantial additional investment in early years and child care over the next three years: the Sure Start budget will more than double from this year to 2007–08. This includes a new Transformation Fund of £125 million a year from 2006–07, which will support investment in high quality, affordable and sustainable child care.
	Parents on low and middle incomes will continue to have their child care costs subsidised through tax credits. From April 2005 the maximum child care element of the working tax credit will increase from £135 to £175 for one child and from £200 to £300 for two or more children. Eligible parents will be able to claim up to 70 per cent. of these limits; this will increase to 80 per cent. from April 2006. These changes should benefit 20,000 families straight away and many more over time.
	From 2006 the 12.5 hour free entitlement to early education for 33 weeks per year will extended to cover 38 weeks a year for all three and four–year-olds. From 2007 the free entitlement will begin to increase to 15 hours per week with all children receiving 15 hours by 2010, as a step towards a goal of 20 hours per week. Parents will have the flexibility to use the free entitlement across a minimum of three days. In addition, we will pilot an extension of free, part time early education to 12,000 two-year-olds in disadvantaged areas by 2008.
	We will establish 2,500 children's centres by 2008, and all young children and their families in the most disadvantaged areas will have access to the high quality integrated services children's centres provide. The 10-Year Strategy sets out a commitment to 3,500 centres by 2010—one in every community.
	In London, from next year, my Department will be working with the Greater London Authority to test a range of approaches aimed at improving the accessibility and affordability of good quality child care for parents on lower incomes through supply side subsidy. These pilots should benefit more than 10,000 families.

Child Care

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free (a) nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four-years-olds in the North Somerset education authority in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: All four-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since September 1998. All three-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since April 2004.
	The available information on the numbers of free part-time early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in North Somerset local education authority area is shown in the tables.
	
		Number of free nursery education places taken up 3 and 4-year-olds(9)(5507260010)—maintained nursery and primary schools—North Somerset local education authority area 1997–2004—position in January each year
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			   Maintained primary schools   Maintained primary schools 
			  Maintained nursery schools Nursery classes Other classes(11) Total Maintained nursery schools Nursery classes Other classes(11) Total 
		
		
			 1997 (12)— 160 0 160 (12)— 100 1,410 1,510 
			 1998 (12)— 160 0 160 (12)— 90 1,370 1,460 
			 1999 (12)— 160 0 160 (12)— 80 1,340 1,420 
			 2000 (12)— 200 0 200 (12)— 90 1,380 1,470 
			 2001 (12)— (13)— (13)— 200 (12)— (13)— (13)— 1,440 
			 2002 (12)— 190 0 190 (12)— 70 1,300 1,370 
			 2003 (12)— 190 0 190 (12)— 80 1,400 1,480 
			 2004 (12)— 160 0 160 (12)— 90 1,370 1,450 
		
	
	(9) Headcount of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year.
	(10) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 places.
	(11) Includes reception classes and classes not designated as nursery classes.
	(12) Not applicable (no maintained nursery schools).
	(13) Not available.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census
	
		Number of free nursery education places taken up 3 and 4-year-olds—maintained schools and private and voluntary providers North Somerset local education authority area 1997–2004—position in January each year
		
			  3-year-olds 4-year-olds 
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools(14) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total Maintained nursery and primary schools(15) Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers Total 
		
		
			 1997 160 0 160 (16)— (16)— 1,800 
			 1998 160 0 160 (16)— (16)— 2,000 
			 1999 160 0 160 (16)— (16)— 2,000 
			 2000 200 0 200 (16)— (16)— 2,200 
			 2001 200 (17)100 300 (16)— (16)— 2,000 
			 2002 190 (17)950 1,140 1,370 (18)500 1,900 
			 2003 190 (17)1,330 1,520 1,480 (19)540 2,000 
			 2004 160 (20)1,310 1,470 1,460 (21)550 2,000 
		
	
	(14) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	2 Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(15) Not available
	(16) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise
	(17) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise.
	(18) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census supplementary data collection exercise and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(19) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	(20) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 39/2004 "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2004 (final)", which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

Child Care

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the proposed level of funding for child care provision in schools is for the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are committed to supporting the provision of child care in schools as part of the wider extended schools initiative in England. Decisions about the provision of child care in Northern Ireland are made by the Northern Ireland Assembly. In the financial year 2005–06 my Department will be making available just over £107 million to support the development of extended schools, including school based child care. In later years we will provide further funding to support the development of school based child care. An announcement will be made in due course.
	In addition to this £14 million from the Young People's Fund element of the Big Lottery Fund has been made available to 78 local authorities over three years from 2004–05 to support the development of extended schools across their areas.
	Schools can also charge parents for child care and in turn, parents, who are eligible, can claim part of the cost through the child care element of the working tax credit.

Child Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will include in the forthcoming Education Bill a statutory duty on local authorities to secure sufficient child care provision to meet local needs.

Margaret Hodge: The 10-year strategy for child care "Choice for parents, the best possible start for children" published on 2 December included the commitment to legislate to place a new duty on local authorities so that over time they will secure sufficient supply of child care places to meet the needs of local families. Local authorities are already key agents for co-ordinating, supporting and delivering child care services and there is a need to confirm the important role they play and clarify their responsibilities in this area. Consultation on the 10 year strategy is due to conclude on 24 February and discussions will be held with local authorities and other stakeholders on the new duty during 2005, with a view to introducing legislation in a future parliamentary session.

Child Care

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) financial and (b) logistical support her Department plans to offer to existing providers of child care (i) to help to ensure their sustainability and (ii) to develop closer links and to align their services with schools.

Margaret Hodge: For 2004–06 £31 million of sustainability funding is available within the General Sure Start Grant to support child care providers in disadvantaged areas. In addition to this the £170 million Delivery Support Fund element of the Grant can also be used to support all providers experiencing sustainability problems, including pre-school and playgroups.
	All existing child care providers can access the support of the dedicated Business Support Officer located within each local authority, for advice and guidance on financial issues and business planning for the future, to ensure long term sustainability.
	As announced in our 10-Year Strategy, our long-term aim is for affordable, flexible, high quality child care to be available for all families with children under 14 (under 16 for children with special needs). We are making substantial additional investment in early years and child care over the next three years. This includes a new Transformation Fund of £125 million a year from April 2006, which will support investment in high quality, affordable and sustainable child care.
	My Department is providing financial support for the development of extended schools, including the school age child care offer through local authorities. Funding will be used to provide support at school level to enable the delivery of a set of core services including school age child care. We realise that schools cannot deliver the child care offer on their own and we are encouraging them to work in partnership with voluntary and private sector providers and other schools to deliver child care. Local authorities will be able to advise schools of wider groups, agencies and services that are willing to work in partnership to develop extended services.
	My Department is also providing logistical support. The Extended Schools Prospectus, which is due to be launched shortly, will set out the vision for extended schools, including child care to schools, local authorities, key stakeholders and the private and voluntary sector. It will draw on the practical experience of schools already delivering services, providing 'how to' advice and case studies on a range of issues, including working with local partners. The prospectus will be available on the teachernet website, so that it can be updated with new issues as they emerge (www.teachernet.gov.uk/extendedschools).

Child Protection

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much was spent on child protection schemes by her Department in each of the last five years, broken down by budget head; and what the forecast budgets are for the next financial year;
	(2)  how much was spent by her Department on child protection schemes in each of the last five years, broken down by budget head; and what the forecast budgets are for the next financial year.

Margaret Hodge: Local authority gross expenditure on children's social services functions is set out in the following tables for the period 1998–99 to 2002–03, the last five years for which expenditure is available.
	
		Gross current expenditure—Children's and Families Services: 1998–99 to 2002–03
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1998–99 2,465,267 
			 1999–2000 2,806,802 
			 2000–01 2,864,584 
			 2001–02 3,119,358 
			 2002–03 3,497,372 
		
	
	
		Amount spent on children in need—2000–01 to 2002–03(21)
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1998–99 — 
			 1999–2000 — 
			 2000–01 916,667 
			 2001–02 1,154,162 
			 2002–03 1,329,001 
		
	
	(21) Definition changed in 1999–2000 therefore spend before 2000–01 not comparable.
	
		Percentage spend on children in need—2000–01 to 2002–03(22)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1998–99 — 
			 1999–2000 — 
			 2000–01 32 
			 2001–02 37 
			 2002–03 38 
		
	
	(22) Definition changed in 1999–2000 therefore spend before 2000–01 not comparable.
	Expenditure will include those in need of protection. Data on Local Authority Personal Social Services expenditure are available at: http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/pss_stat.htm
	For 2005–06 the Government are making available £4,284 million for children's social services through formula spending and grants, an increase of 7.6 per cent. on 2004–05. Councils are free to decide how much of these resources to use on child protection services.
	In addition, the DfES is responsible for section 64 grants for children's social services. The Secretary of State for Education and Skills, through the Safeguarding Children and Supporting Families Grants Scheme (section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 as amended), has power to make grants to voluntary organisations in England whose activities support the DfES's policy priorities for children's social care. Grants may be paid for up to three years.
	The grants are discretionary and terms and conditions agreed by Ministers and HM Treasury apply. Competition for the available funds is always very strong, and priority is given to applications with innovative proposals of national significance that will complement statutory services and so help secure provision of high quality children's social care.
	The DfES values its partnership with the voluntary and community sector across the whole of children's social care. Making effective use of Safeguarding Children and Supporting Families Grants and other powers at national and local level is central to this relationship.
	The total budget for the Safeguarding Children and Supporting Families Grants Scheme in 2005–06 is £4.2 million including existing grants. Of this, we expect approximately £1.67 million to be available for new grant awards in 2005–06.
	Of the 127 applications received in the 2004–05 Round, Minister awarded 47 grants totalling £2.812 million.
	Furthermore, the Local Authority Social Services Letter (2003)7 announced the introduction of the Safeguarding Children Specific Formula Grant of £90 million. It also announced a capital grant of £10 million to support the development of information technology systems for children's social services. The £10 million was the first tranche of a total grant of £30 million payable in 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07.

Child Trafficking

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many trafficked children have disappeared from local authority care between 1999 and 2004.

Margaret Hodge: This information is not held centrally. Current statistics on those children who are absent from their agreed placement may be found in Table J of the DfES Statistical Volume "Children looked after by Local Authorities Year Ending 31 March 2003". This can be downloaded from the internet at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DBA/VOL/v000454/index.shtml and is also available from TSO (the Stationery Office).
	This data do not differentiate between the different groups of looked after children.

Civil Service Property

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many items of civil service property within her Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type.

Stephen Twigg: The following tables detail the items of civil service property unaccounted for (reported as lost or stolen) from the Department for Education and Skills in each year since the Department was established on 11 June 2001.
	
		Financial year 2001–02
		
			 Description Number of items Approximate value per item (£) Total approximate value (£) 
		
		
			 Laptop PC 3 1,000 3,000 
			 Mobile phone 2 100 200 
			 Video phone 1 200 200 
			 Phone charger 1 25 25 
			 Dictaphone 1 40 40 
			 Chair 1 80 80 
			 Total losses — — 3,545 
		
	
	
		Financial year 2002–03
		
			 Description Number of items Approximate value per item (£) Total approximate value (£) 
		
		
			 Mobile phone 4 102.50 410 
			 Headphone 1 10 10 
			 Digital Camera 1 200 200 
			 Total losses — — 620 
		
	
	
		Financial year 2003–04
		
			 Description Number of items Approximate value per item (£) Total approximate value (£) 
		
		
			 PC Chips 94 30 2,820 
			 Data Projector 2 2,760 5,520 
			 Laptop PC 8 1,326.58 10,612.64 
			 Mobile phone 7 91.43 640 
			 Digital voice recorder 1 100 100 
			 PC carrying case 1 30 30 
			 Wall clock 1 5 5 
			 Desk phone 1 113.40 113.40 
			 Total losses — — 19,841 
		
	
	
		Financial year 2004–05
		
			 Description Number of items Approximate value per item (£) Total approximate value (£) 
		
		
			 Laptop PC 4 1,326.58 5,306.32 
			 Palmtop PDA PC 1 350 350 
			 Scanner cable 1 20 20 
			 Wireless router 1 100 100 
			 Digital camera 1 300 300 
			 Mobile phone 6 33.34 200 
			 Total losses — — 6,276

Connexions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what representations she has received on changes to funding for the Connexions Service in Birmingham and Solihull;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the change in funding formula to be applied to the Connexions Service and the likely impact that this will have in Birmingham and Solihull.

Margaret Hodge: Letters about the funding of Connexions in Birmingham and Solihull have been received from:
	Richard Burden MP on behalf of Mike Bell, former Chief Executive of Connexions Birmingham and Solihull and Valerie Broom of UNISON;
	John Taylor MP on behalf of Mike Bell, Simon Field, the Connexions Voluntary Sector Forum Coordinator for Birmingham and Solihull and Councillor Richards,
	Leader of Solihull Metropolitan borough council;
	Dr. Lynne Jones MP on behalf of Mike Bell and her constituent Jacqui Francis; and
	Dr. Ahmed Hassam on behalf of Mike Bell and the Chairs of the West Midlands Connexions Partnerships.
	Ministers considered carefully the impact that the changes made to the funding formula in 2004 would have on the Connexions Service in all areas of the country. In 2004–05 we introduced a no cash loss guarantee to ensure that no Connexions Partnership received less in cash terms than it did in 2003–04, and in 2005–06 we will be ensuring that all Partnerships receive a minimum 2 per cent. increase in their core grant allocation. Connexions Birmingham and Solihull will in fact receive an increase of 4.28 per cent. in 2005–06.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by her Department on (a) indoor bought plants, (b) indoor hired plants, (c) outdoor bought plants and (d) outdoor hired plants in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: My Department has spent the following on indoor and outdoor bought plants since 1997:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2003–04 12,453 
			 2002–03 6,235 
			 2001–02 6,952 
			 2000–01 11,436 
			 1999–2000 (23)— 
			 1998–99 (23)— 
			 1997–98 (23)— 
		
	
	(23) This information can only be provided at disproportionate costs.
	The information regarding indoor and outdoor hired plants is not held centrally and would require a Departmental trawl at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure incurred in the purchase and procurement of services and items is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

Dudley, North

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out, with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effects of her Department's policy since 1997 on the Dudley, North constituency.

Stephen Twigg: The Dudley, North constituency lies within Dudley local education authority. The most recent Key Stage 2 and GCSE/GNVQ achievement for pupils attending schools in Dudley, North are given in the following tables:
	
		Key Stage 2 achievements of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Dudley North constituency
		
			 Percentage of pupils gaining level 4 and above 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Dudley North—English 53.4 72.7 19.3 
			 Dudley North—Maths 49.2 65.1 15.9 
			 National Average—English 63 78 15 
			 National Average—Maths 61 74 13 
		
	
	
		GCSE/GNVQ(24) achievement of 15-year-old pupils(25) attending schools in the Dudley North constituency
		
			 Percentage of 15-year-olds gaining 1997 2004 Percentage point improvement 1997–2004 
		
		
			 Dudley North—5+ A*-C 35.7 42.7 7.0 
			 Dudley North—5+ A*-G 85.9 88.1 2.2 
			 Dudley North—1+ A*-G 91.6 93.9 2.3 
			 National average—5+ A*-C 45.1 53.7 8.6 
			 National average—5+ A*-G 87.0 88.8 1.8 
			 National average—1+ A*-G 92.3 95.9 3.6 
		
	
	(24) For 2004 only results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only.
	(25) As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	Further information by constituency, is provided within the Department's 'In Your Area' web site available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea. Where information is not available at the constituency level it has been provided at local education authority level.
	This website allows users to access key facts and local information about education and skills based on postcodes. The data available within the site offer comparisons between 1997 and the latest available year and covers five geographies. These are parliamentary constituency, ward, local authority district, local education authority, Government Office region. England figures are also provided.
	The information available within the website is grouped in a number of broad categories including literacy and numeracy at age 11, literacy and numeracy at age 14, GCSE/GNVQ results, pupils with special educational needs, school initiatives, school workforce, school funding and resources, children's social services, early years, class sizes, post 16, higher education and adult education.
	Additional information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department is investigating ways in which we can disseminate more information about the effects of our policies at a local level. The 'In Your Area' website will be further developed over the coming months to include additional information about adult education, school funding, school initiatives, school performance, school workforce and post 16.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students aged 16 to 18 years are in receipt of education maintenance allowance in the West Midlands region.

Ivan Lewis: By the end of December 2004, 35,679 young people in the West Midlands region had received one or more EMA payment.

Examination Results

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 16 to 18 year old A-level candidates achieved at least three A grades at A2 level in (a) maintained schools, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) other further education colleges in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested on the proportion of 16 to 18 year old candidates achieving at least three A grades at GCE/VCE A level 1 in 2003/04 is given as follows.
	1 A VCE Double Award at grade AA counts as two grade As and a grade AB as one. AS levels, which usually count as half an A level, are not included in this table.
	
		
			  Male Female Total 
		
		
			 All maintained schools 7.3 8.1 7.7 
			 Sixth form colleges 6.4 7.7 7.1 
			 Other FE sector colleges 2.0 2.3 2.2

Examination Results

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average GCE/VCE A/AS point score per candidate aged 16 to 18 years in (a) maintained schools, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) other further education colleges was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested on the average GCE/VCE A/AS point score per candidate aged 16 to 18 years in 2003–04 is given as follows:
	
		
			  Male Female Total 
		
		
			 All Maintained Schools 260.2 282.2 271.9 
			 Sixth Form Colleges 262.8 295.5 280.7 
			 Other FE Sector Colleges 173.5 197.5 186.7

Examination Results

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in maintained schools (a) with and (b) without a sixth form achieved five or more grades A*-G at GCSE in 2003/04.

Stephen Twigg: Figures for 2004 indicate that 91.8 per cent. of 15-year-old pupils in maintained mainstream schools with sixth forms achieved five or more grades A*-G at GCSE and equivalent compared with 89.7 per cent. of those in schools without sixth forms.

Examination Results

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average GCE/VCE A/AS point score per candidate aged 16 to 18 years in maintained school sixth forms containing (a) fewer than 25, (b) 25–50, (c) 50–75, (d) 75–100, (e) 100–125, (f) 125–150 and (g) more than 150 pupils was in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested on GCE/VCE A/AS point score per candidate aged 16 to 18 years in maintained school sixth forms in 2003–04 is given as follows:
	
		
			 Number of students aged 16 to 18 2003–04 
		
		
			 24 and below 180.6 
			 25 to 49 184.7 
			 50 to 74 195.9 
			 75 to 99 205.0 
			 100 to 124 221.1 
			 125 to 149 231.6 
			 150 and above 282.5 
			 All Institutions 271.9

Extended Schools

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to provide child care in extended schools.

Margaret Hodge: The Government's 10-year strategy Choice for Parents, the Best Start for Children, published on 2 December, sets out our commitment to give every child the best start in life and to ensure that parents have real choice about how to balance work and family life. Our long term investment includes a guarantee of child care being available from 8 am to 6 pm, all year round, for all parents of children aged five to 11. The guarantee will help the very varied needs of children and families. Obviously we do not expect most children to spend all their time in school when schools are open for longer, but parents will be able to choose hours which meet their needs and the needs of their children. We expect at least half of parents to benefit from this offer by 2008, and all by 2010. By 2008, at least a third of all secondary schools will be open from 8 am to 6 pm, all year round offering a range of activities for 11 to14 year olds. By 2010, all secondary schools will be part of a network offering this provision. Provision could be available in a local school, in a neighbouring school or on a different site, provided by the school or in partnership with voluntary and private sector providers, including local childminders.

Foreign Language Teachers

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) applicants and (b) acceptances there were for university courses in modern foreign languages, (i) not combined with and (ii) combined with non-language subjects in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Our national languages strategy emphasises the importance of encouraging students in higher education to take an active part in learning modern foreign languages and we shall continue to pursue this aim.
	The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers all applicants and accepted applicants to full- time undergraduate courses in the UK. Figures are in the table.
	
		Applicants and acceptances through UCAS to modern foreign languages
		
			  Not combined with non- language subjects Combined with non- language subjects(26) 
			 Year of entry Applicants Acceptances(27) Applicants Acceptances(27) 
		
		
			 1999 6,586 7,639 6,709 8,133 
			 2000 5,970 7,170 6,614 8,063 
			 2001 5,823 6,885 7,107 8,476 
			 2002(28) 6,179 7,516 10,654 14,170 
			 2003(28) 6,004 7,249 10,737 14,275 
		
	
	(26) Includes combinations of languages (including classical languages) with law, social studies, business studies, humanities, art and education. Combinations of languages with science subjects cannot be easily identified separately. Does not include combinations of three subjects.
	(27) Acceptances may be larger than applicants as acceptance figures include students who did not achieve their first choice course and it includes those students accepted through clearing.
	(28) For entry in 2002 onwards, the subjects are classified using the joint academic coding system (JACS) which differs to the method used in previous years (HESACODE).
	Source:
	Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

Sixth Form and Further Education

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per capita funding for 16 to 19-year-olds in Milton Keynes was in (a) school sixth forms and (b) further education colleges in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council. The Department does not collect information on the level of per capita funding for 16 to 19- year-olds in school sixth forms and further education colleges at the local level. Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with details of the level of per capita funding for 16 to 19-year-olds in (a) school sixth forms and (b) further education colleges in each of the last five years in the Milton Keynes area. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Library.

Sixth Form and Further Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost is per pupil of education in (a) maintained school sixth forms, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) other further education colleges; and what projections her Department has made for funding per pupil over the next five years in each of these types of establishment.

Stephen Twigg: The Further Education funding system is different to schools. Funding is paid for learning aims as well as an entitlement per 16 to 18 payment.
	Under the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC's) funding formula the basic cost to the public purse of delivering three A-levels in a sixth form college and a further education college to a student in the 2004/05 academic year will be £3,045. This figure comprises £766 for the delivery of each A-level learning aim, and £747 for each student for the entitlement element of their learning programme.
	Under the LSC's funding formula the basic cost to the public purse of delivering three A-levels to a student at an English maintained secondary school will be £3,212. This figure comprises £785 for the delivery of each A-level learning aim, £750 for each student for the entitlement element of their learning programme, and £107 for each student to meet additional employers' contributions to teachers' pensions.
	These figures do not represent all funding that colleges and school sixth forms receive and are not directly comparable. For example the further education funding rates include consolidated funds for pay and staff training that are not reflected in the school sixth form rates. Also, in each case additional funding may also be available to take account of the higher costs of delivering learning in particular geographical areas, in higher cost subjects, or to students with particular disadvantages or individual needs.
	It is expected that base funding rates per qualification will be increased by 4 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 5 per cent. for further education colleges, on a broadly comparable basis, in 2005/06. LSC will decide funding rates for each academic year nearer the time in light of the funding it has available and where priorities lie.
	The Department is discussing with the LSC how to take forward the next stage of the Skills Strategy from 2006/07, including the roll out of a National Employer Training Programme, and more broadly how the increases in funding from the 2004 Spending Review are applied, and until those discussions are concluded it will not be possible to set out precise forecasts of FE funding per learner.

GCSEs and A-levels

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have entered (a) GCSE and (b) A level examinations in each year since 1997 in (i) Hartlepool and (ii) England and Wales for the following subjects (A) English, (B) mathematics, (C) history and (D) a foreign language.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Figures for Wales are a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
	
		Table 1: GCSE attempts of 15-year-old pupils in selected subjects 1997–2004
		
			  Hartlepool 
			 Academic year English Mathematics History Any modern foreign language 
		
		
			 1996/97 949 990 465 567 
			 1997/98 1,023 1,063 458 798 
			 1998/99 1,050 1,073 331 829 
			 1999/2000 1,120 1,155 317 791 
			 2000/01 1,175 1,192 419 825 
			 2001/02 1,154 1,170 341 792 
			 2002/03 1,218 1,248 315 831 
			 2003/04 1,188 1,250 392 729 
		
	
	
		
			  England 
			 Academic year English Mathematics History Any modern foreign language 
		
		
			 1996/97 533,348 533,992 207,486 432,459 
			 1997/98 519,983 526,882 189,070 444,704 
			 1998/99 530,173 536,779 188,934 455,385 
			 1999/2000 533,227 539,934 190,279 459,379 
			 2000/01 555,392 563,852 195,231 473,393 
			 2001/02 560,199 568,851 193,945 461,460 
			 2002/03 577,427 585,017 194,801 453,914 
			 2003/04 597,611 605,980 205,533 437,163 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Number of 16 to 18-year-old GCE A level candidates in selected subjects 1997–2004
		
			  Hartlepool 
			 Academic year English Mathematics History Any modern foreign language 
		
		
			 1996/97 105 52 54 32 
			 1997/98 93 56 52 29 
			 1998/99 78 56 34 25 
			 1999/2000 98 65 36 11 
			 2000/01 104 83 43 17 
			 2001/02 92 44 52 17 
			 2002/03 86 58 55 25 
			 2003/04 95 64 55 21 
		
	
	
		
			  England 
			 Academic year English Mathematics History Any modern foreign language 
		
		
			 1996/97 80,003 55,789 36,078 32,997 
			 1997/98 80,312 56,529 34,437 31,346 
			 1998/99 77,610 56,030 33,406 29,915 
			 1999/2000 74,740 53,637 33,140 26,981 
			 2000/01 74,445 54,049 33,831 26,918 
			 2001/02 76,877 44,169 35,511 24,375 
			 2002/03 77,270 44,531 36,513 23,703 
			 2003/04 78,484 46,126 38,156 23,489

Home Carers Scheme

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many nannies have (a) applied for and (b) received Government accreditation via the home carers scheme.

Margaret Hodge: The Government do not have a breakdown of the occupations of those who have (a) applied for; and (b) received accreditation via the home child carers' scheme.
	A new Childcare Approval Scheme was announced on 8 December. This will allow for the approval of child care provided in the child's home or, for children over the age of seven, on other domestic premises. Carers will be able to apply for approval from 4 January 2005. By using an approved carer parents have been able to access financial support through the child care element of the working tax credit or through employer supported child care. Parents who are eligible will be able to claim financial support from 6 April 2005. The new scheme will provide parents with more flexible, affordable, opportunities for home based care.

Homelessness

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will permit homeless children in temporary accommodation to be included in groups of socially excluded children targeted by the Vulnerable Children Grant.

Margaret Hodge: The Government's aim is that all vulnerable children should be able to access good quality education. The Standards Fund Vulnerable Children Grant was introduced in the 2003–04 financial year to help local education authorities (LEAs) to achieve this aim.
	The key groups whose needs the Vulnerable Children Grant is designed to address are: looked after children; children who are unable to attend school because of medical needs; gypsy/traveller children; asylum seekers, young carers, school refusers, teenage parents and young offenders. This list is not prescriptive or exclusive. Many of these children will face multiple challenges, sometimes including homelessness. The grant may be used by LEAs to meet the needs of any vulnerable children identified by them as needing support, including those who are homeless. This discretionary approach allows local needs to be addressed more flexibly and responsively than would be possible using central direction.
	In November last year the Department published an evaluation of the Vulnerable Children Grant undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). One of the key findings of the report was that the grant had enabled LEAs to provide support for a variety of vulnerable groups. The NFER reported that in some LEAs surveyed the grant had been used to support children who are socially vulnerable, for example children living in vulnerable accommodation such as women's refuges, or children who were the subject of family breakdown or changes in home circumstances.

ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of how much time will be required of teachers to fill in the route map for information and communication technology use.

Derek Twigg: We have recently asked the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency to develop a route-map for schools which will help each school to identify how they can move forward in embedding information and communication technology to support teaching and learning.
	The route map will not involve any requirement on teachers to fill in anything.

Key Stage 4

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average value added scores at Key Stage 4 are for (a) maintained school sixth forms, (b) sixth form colleges, (c) further education colleges and (d) special schools.

Stephen Twigg: Figures 1 2 are unavailable for Parts (a) , (b) and (c) of the question as the GCSE and Equivalents 2 value added measures are based on pupils aged 151 at the start of the academic year. Maintained school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and further education colleges do not have 15-year-old pupils on roll, except in rare individual cases. Figures are provided for special schools 3 (d) as follows:
	The Key Stage 2—Age 15 1 , 2 value added measure is 1019.4 for special schools 3 in 2004.
	The Key Stage 3—Age 1511, 2 value added measure is 1022.5 for special schools 3 in 2004.
	1 As standard the results reported relate to pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August and therefore reaching the end of compulsory education at the end of the school year.
	2 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a wide range of other qualifications approved pre-16. 3 'Special schools' include Community special schools, Foundation special schools, Special schools not maintained by LEA and Independent schools approved to take pupils with Special Education Needs.

New Deal for Schools

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding each school in Stoke-on-Trent has received from the new deal for schools.

Stephen Twigg: The funding for new deal for schools allocated to Stoke-on-Trent from 1997–98 to 2000–01 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Stoke-on-Trent LEA £000 
		
		
			 1997–98 650 
			 1998–99 2,799 
			 1999–2000 1,753 
			 2000–01 3,123 
		
	
	Decisions on detailed allocations to individual schools were made locally by the LEA. The breakdown of funds allocated to schools by constituency is not held centrally.

Newborn Hearing Screening

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what monitoring he conducts of local authority provision of support for families of deaf children identified through newborn hearing screening;
	(2)  what entitlement deaf children identified through newborn hearing screening and under the age of two years have to support from qualified teachers of the deaf.

Margaret Hodge: The Children Act 2004 introduces new requirements for integrated inspections of children's services. Proposals will be published soon for public consultation. Joint Area Reviews will make judgments about how services collectively improve the well-being of all children, including disabled children. Ofsted will work closely with the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and other inspectorates to carry out integrated inspections.
	In May 2003, we published guidance for local education authorities in relation to early support for deaf children and their families. This guidance covered the aims of education service provision and the contribution which qualified teachers of the deaf could make, working alongside health and other professionals.
	Since then, additional material has been made available through our Early Support Programme. This includes a monitoring protocol to check the progress which deaf children make in the first three years or so after deafness has been identified, an information booklet on deafness for parents and a service audit tool for supporting the development and improvement of services for disabled children under three and their families.

Nursery Places

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many three and four- year-olds in Leyton and Wanstead have benefited from the scheme guaranteeing a free part-time nursery place.

Margaret Hodge: All four-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since September 1998. All three-year-olds in England have been entitled to a free part-time early education place since April 2004.
	The available information on the numbers of free part-time early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in Leyton and Wanstead parliamentary constituency and Redbridge local education authority area is shown in the tables. Information for private and voluntary providers is available for Redbridge but not for Leyton and Wanstead.
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release 39/2004 "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2004 (final)", which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	
		Number of free nursery education places taken up 3 and 4-year-olds Redbridge local education authority area
		
			 Position in January each year Maintained nursery and primary schools(29) Other maintained and independent private, voluntary and providers(30) Total 3-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 690 n/a 690 
			 1998 820 n/a 820 
			 1999 1,300 n/a 1,300 
			 2000 1,600 n/a 1,600 
			 2001 1,600 850 2,500 
			 2002 1,700 610 2,300 
			 2003 1,600 850 2,450 
			 2004 1,600 750 2,400 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(29) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(30) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	
		4-year-olds
		
			 Position in January each year Maintained nursery and primary schools(31) Other maintained and independent private, voluntary and providers(32) Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 n/a n/a 2,900 
			 1998 n/a n/a 3,100 
			 1999 n/a n/a 3,200 
			 2000 n/a n/a 3,200 
			 2001 n/a n/a 3,400 
			 2002 2,700 510 3,200 
			 2003 2,700 520 3,300 
			 2004 2,600 450 3,100 
		
	
	n/a = Not available
	(31) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools' Census.
	(32) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the Annual Schools' Census.
	
		Number of free nursery education places(33)(5507260034) taken up 3 and 4-year-olds in maintained nursery and primary schools Leyton and Wanstead parliamentary constituency area
		
			 Position in Maintained Maintained primary schools  
			 January each year nursery schools Nursery classes Other classes(35) Total 3-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 50 440 0 490 
			 1998 40 440 0 480 
			 1999 60 460 0 520 
			 2000 50 540 0 590 
			 2001 40 550 0 590 
			 2002 80 530 0 610 
			 2003 70 430 30 530 
			 2004 50 540 0 590 
		
	
	
		
			 Position in Maintained Maintained primary schools  
			 January each year nursery schools Nursery classes Other classes(35) Total 4-year-olds 
		
		
			 1997 40 630 440 1110 
			 1998 50 620 430 1100 
			 1999 40 610 440 1100 
			 2000 40 600 420 1100 
			 2001 50 560 480 1100 
			 2002 30 490 440 960 
			 2003 40 490 470 1000 
			 2004 30 480 440 960 
		
	
	(33) Headcount of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year.
	(34) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 or 100 as appropriate.
	(35) Includes reception classes and classes not designated as nursery classes.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Out-of-classroom Learning

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the merits of supporting research into the costs and benefits of out-of-classroom learning; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the role of out-of-classroom learning in increasing (a) physical activity and (b) inclusivity among school children; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what practical steps will be taken to increase opportunities (a) within the curriculum and (b) outside the school day for trips and visits for school children as identified in her Department's five year strategy; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what guidance has been given to academies in relation to the promotion of outdoor learning;
	(5)  if her Department will asked Ofsted to conduct a special survey of outdoor education in all schools;
	(6)  what plans her Department has to commission further research into the contribution of (a) outdoor education and (b) biology fieldwork to the curriculum; and if she will make a statement;
	(7)  what steps she has taken to ensure that all students experience the benefits of outdoor education as identified in the recent Ofsted report; and if she will make a statement;
	(8)  what recent discussions she has had with the teaching unions regarding their position on educational visits; and if she will make a statement;

Stephen Twigg: Over the past few years the Department has both commissioned and jointly funded external studies to examine benefits and potential barriers for outdoor education; outdoor learning, including fieldwork; out-of-classroom learning, including museums and galleries and residential experiences; and out-of-hours learning. We may commission further research into specific aspects of some or all of these. We have no plans to ask Ofsted to survey outdoor education in all schools. We have not made an assessment of the role of out-of-classroom learning in increasing physical activity or inclusivity in schools. We have not sent any guidance to Academies on outdoor learning.
	We are in talks with the NASUWT regarding their long-standing concerns about out of classroom safety. In particular, we are investigating with them what else we could do to help local authorities and schools ensure that investigations following pupil accidents are fair to school staff, as well as to pupils and their parents. The National Curriculum has statutory requirements in PE and geography for all pupils to experience learning outside the classroom. We are developing further practical steps to encourage schools to expand provision for all pupils, across and beyond the National Curriculum, including trips and visits.

Pupil to Teacher Ratios

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set out (a) for the London borough of Redbridge and (b) for the London borough of Waltham Forest, for 1997 and 2004, (i) the pupil to teacher ratio and (ii) the pupil to teacher plus classroom assistant ratio.

Stephen Twigg: The data requested are shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(36)—pupil to teacher ratio(37) and pupil to adult ratio(38) 1997 and 2004—position in January each year
		
			  1997 2004 
		
		
			 London borough of Redbridge   
			 Primary   
			 Pupil to teacher ratio 22.9 23.3 
			 Pupil to adult ratio 18.7 13.7 
			 Secondary   
			 Pupil to teacher ratio 16.5 16.9 
			 Pupil to adult ratio 14.1 12.9 
			
			 London borough of Waltham Forest   
			 Primary   
			 Pupil to teacher ratio 21.7 25.2 
			 Pupil to adult ratio 17.3 13.5 
			 Secondary   
			 Pupil to teacher ratio 15.6 16.6 
			 Pupil to adult ratio 13.0 11.5 
		
	
	(36) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(37) The pupil to teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools.
	(38) The pupil to adult ratio is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll by the total FTE number of all teachers and support staff employed in schools, excluding administrative and clerical staff.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Pupil to Teacher Ratios

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received on the effect of pupil ratios on the allocation of funding to schools.

Stephen Twigg: None.

Schools Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish regular information on the number of (a) schools and (b) children's centres that have been built, rebuilt or remodelled in each of the Department's programmes.

Stephen Twigg: We do not have this information across all of our programmes and have no plans to publish it. All local authorities and schools receive support for capital investment from us for their priority needs. In the main, we do not specify how they must invest it; they decide this on the basis of local asset management plans. We do not collect information about these local decisions, in order to keep administrative burdens to an acceptable level. Detailed information should be held locally.

Schools Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will set intermediate targets for the number of secondary schools to be improved in the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Stephen Twigg: We aim to deliver Building Schools for the Future within 10 to 15 years from 2005–06, subject to future public spending decisions. The projects announced from the spending review 2004 will renew an estimated 380 secondary schools. We do not intend to set targets for schools to be included beyond each spending review period.
	We will also support improvements to other secondary schools over the next three years through devolved formula capital allocations to every school, formulaic allocations to every local authority, the Academies programme, the Targeted Capital Fund, and the new joint 16–19 capital budget.

Schools Infrastructure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what definition she uses of the term 21st century schools in the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Stephen Twigg: Building Schools for the Future is the practical application of the Government's commitment to transform secondary education, and will help ensure that secondary pupils in every part of England learn in 21st century facilities.
	To demonstrate what this could mean, we developed exemplar designs for schools fit for the 21st century. The exemplars show how to create high quality, modern school buildings with the latest integrated ICT systems. They show how to provide attractive, imaginative and stimulating environments, which are also safe and secure places for children to learn in. These are some of the requirements that are needed in a school for the future. They should also be inclusive, so that no child is left out and all can achieve their full potential, and be open to wider use, strengthening schools connection with their local communities. Overall, the transformation of the secondary school estate will help to raise standards and will play a crucial part in our ambitious programme of educational reform.

Secure Units

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the local authority secure units which have closed since 2000; and what the bed capacity of each was at the time of closure.

Margaret Hodge: The local authority secure children's homes which have closed since 31 March 2000 are in the following table along with the approved number of residents at time of closure.
	
		
			 Secure children's homes Number of residents 
		
		
			 Briars Hey 8 
			 Brunel 8 
			 Dales House 8 
			 Stamford House 26 
			 Stoke House 14 
			 Thornbury House 7

SEN and Disability Tribunal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many claims of unlawful discrimination have been (a) received and (b) cleared in favour of the claimant by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal in England in each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: In the school year 2002/03 the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) received 104 claims of discrimination and registered 78 of these. The other 26 fell outside the Tribunal's powers. In 2003/04 it received 108 claims and registered 81.
	The SENDIST decided 14 cases in 2002/03 and upheld three of these. In 2003/04 it decided 69 claims and upheld 21.

Sex Education

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what rights parents have to withdraw their children from sex education in schools; and what steps her Department takes to inform parents of these rights.

Derek Twigg: Parents have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of the sex and relationship education (SRE) provided at school, except for those parts included in the statutory science curriculum.
	Guidance issued to schools in July 2000 makes it clear that parents have the right to withdraw, and emphasises the importance of schools working in partnership with parents. The Department has also published a leaflet for parents setting out their rights in relation to SRE. The leaflet is available on the Department's website at www.dfes.gov.uk/sreandparents and in hard copy for schools to distribute to parents.

Special Needs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision is being made to enable North Yorkshire schools to meet their special needs requirements and to ensure that their inclusion policy is adequately funded.

Margaret Hodge: The majority of funding for schools is distributed according to a locally agreed formula which will include factors for SEN and deprivation. Most pupils with SEN are in mainstream schools and are funded through their authority's local funding formula. This enables schools to intervene early and make good arrangements to meet children's needs while ensuring that these pupils are fully included. It is for local authorities to decide how best to distribute their funding.
	Up to 2003–04 a grant for special educational needs was paid to all local education authorities through the Standards Fund; North Yorkshire's allocation was £788,153; of which 50 per cent. was government grant and 50 per cent. contributed by the local authority. In 2004–05, this allocation was increased by 4 per cent. to £819,679 for North Yorkshire. In 2004–05 a number of previously separate grants for schools including the grant for SEN were brought together within a single grant—the School Development Grant. This grant is allocated to schools to use for any purpose to promote school improvement, including special educational needs. In 2003–04 LEAs could retain 50 per cent. of the SEN grant for central support for special educational needs. In 2004–05, LEAs are allowed to retain the same cash amount from their schools development grant for these purposes.

Specialist Schools (England)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many specialist schools there are in England; how many are in areas within the most deprived 20 per cent. of wards according to the Government's index of deprivation; and what specialisms have been chosen by the schools situated in those areas.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		(i) Number of specialist schools—maintained secondary(39) and special
		
			  Number of schools Number of specialist schools Percentage of specialist schools 
		
		
			 England
			 Secondary 3,385 1,936 57 
			 Special 1,063 19 1.8 
			 Total 448 1,955 1,955 
			 20% Most Deprived Areas 
			 Secondary 578 293 50.7 
			 Special 238 6 2.5 
			 Total 816 299 36.6 
		
	
	(39) Includes middle schools as deemed
	
		(ii) Number of specialist schools by specialism
		
			  All Schools Schools in 20% Most Deprived Areas 
			 Specialism Number of specialist schools Specialism (Percentage) Number of specialist schools Specialism (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Arts 304 15.5 49 16.4 
			 Business and Enterprise 146 7.5 30 10.0 
			 Business and Enterprise and Arts 2 0.1 0 — 
			 Engineering 35 1.8 6 2.0 
			 Engineering and Business and Enterprise 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Humanities 18 0.9 4 1.3 
			 Humanities and Arts 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Humanities and Business and Enterprise 2 0.1 0 — 
			 Language 202 10.3 26 8.7 
			 Language and Arts 1 0.1 1 0.3 
			 Language and Business and Enterprise 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Maths and Computing 153 7.8 19 6.4 
			 Maths and Computing and Engineering 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Maths and Computing and Humanities 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Maths and Computing and Languages 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Maths and Computing with Enterprise 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Music 5 0.3 0 — 
			 Music and Maths and Computing 1 0.1 0  
			 Science 225 11.5 27 9.0 
			 Science and Arts 5 0.3 0 — 
			 Science and Engineering 5 0.3 2 0.7 
			 Science and Maths and Computing 6 0.3 0 — 
			 Sports 283 14.5 52 17.4 
			 Sports and Arts 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Sports and Business and Enterprise 1 0.1 0 — 
			 Sports and Science 2 0.1 1 0.3 
			 Technology 546 27.9 81 27.1 
			 Technology and Arts 2 0.1 1 0.3 
			 Technology and Engineering 3 0.2 0 — 
			 Total 1,955 100.0 299 100.0

Student Support

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will assess the merits of a single system of student support based on intensity of study.

Kim Howells: There are no plans to adopt a single system of general support based on intensity of study. However, changes we are introducing for the 2005/06 academic year will pro-rate the amount of fee support that a part-time student receives to the intensity of their part-time study. This Government are the only one to have provided support for part-time students. Prior to academic year 1998/99 no financial support of any kind was available to them. Since then we have introduced schemes which have enabled some part-time students to have their tuition fees met, to qualify for disabled students' allowances and to take out loans to cover course costs. In 2004/05 a new package of grants was introduced and this is being improved on further in 2005/06.

Student Support

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the extent to which support for part-time students takes account of the costs of (a) travel, (b) child care and (c) lost income.

Kim Howells: The Department for Education and Skills commissioned the Open University to carry out a survey into the incomes of and costs incurred by part-time higher education students while studying. The survey found that, excluding course fees, students faced extra costs of on average £246 per year. This is slightly less than the maximum course grant of £250 which is available to part-time students.

Student Support

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures the Government has taken since the Higher Education Act 2004 to support part-time students.

Kim Howells: The Government are building upon the improved support for part-time students, which was introduced in academic year 2004/05, by increasing the amount of fee grant that a student may get in academic year 2005/06. There will be three maximum fee grants rates of £590, £710 and £885 for students who are studying at 50 per cent. or more of an equivalent full-time course with the highest rate applying to those who study at 75 per cent. or more FTE. The threshold below which students can get both the fee grant and the £250 course grant in full is also being increased from £14,600 in 2004/05 to £14,970 in 2005/06.

Sure Start

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to transfer responsibility for administering Sure Start to county councils after 2006.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 30 November 2004
	Before April 2006, we will be discussing with local authorities and Sure Start local programmes how to ensure that the high quality services and successful ways of working pioneered by the Sure Start programmes can be maintained as local authorities take on increasing responsibility for planning of children's services. We expect that all local programmes will be administered through local authorities by April 2008.
	We have no plans to remove the national ring fence from the Sure Start budget before 2008. However, some local removal of the ring fence will be piloted from 2005 as part of the Local Area Agreement pilots.

Sure Start

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to ring fence the funding for Sure Start programmes in Kent when the funding arrangements are moved to Kent county council.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 January 2005
	Kent county council (CC) is taking part in the Local Area Agreement (LAA) pilot from April 2005 and as such will be able to request the inclusion of Sure Start local programme revenue funding as part of the children's services block of the LAA. As part of the LAA, Sure Start local programme funding would not be ring fenced.
	Sure Start funding will however only be considered for inclusion in LAAs where areas can demonstrate that outputs will support Sure Start and the other targets in the 10 year childcare strategy. Kent CC will also be expected to continue to involve parents, children and community groups in the planning and delivery of services, and that will be reflected in the assessment of their performance. If Kent decide not to include Sure Start local programme funding within the local area agreement then the Sure Start local programmes revenue grant will be paid to the programmes' accountable bodies as in earlier years.

Sure Start

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Sure Start in reaching homeless families with children in temporary accommodation; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Sure Start Local Programmes are area-based programmes bringing together health and family support services with play, learning and child care opportunities to give young children living in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged communities the best possible start in life. Some programmes with large numbers of homeless families in their catchment areas have specifically targeted the needs of homeless families, for example by providing play and advice sessions for children living in temporary accommodation.
	The experience of local programmes and other services has shown that Sure Start, with its combination of universal and targeted services and focus on outreach, has been effective in reaching groups such as homeless families who often fall through the service network. By providing them with information and support, services encourage such groups to access services. Many Sure Start services have also supported mainstream services to reach out to and be more responsive to the particular needs of homeless families.
	A major evaluation of Sure Start Local Programmes began in January 2001. This is looking at: the impact of the programme in the short, medium and long-term; access and quality of services; and its cost-effectiveness. One aspect will be to assess the outreach and home visiting services in place within programmes and the methods being developed to meet the needs of hard- to-reach families. Information will be available in summer 2005.
	The Government's 10-year strategy for child care, announced in December 2004, aims to provide every family with easy access to integrated services through children's centres and extended schools in their local community. They will build on the success of Local Programmes and other initiatives for young children and families. 2,500 centres will be in place by 2008, and 3,500 by 2010. They will be proactive in reaching out to ensure that families who do not access services readily, including homeless families, nonetheless receive the help and support they need.
	The Sure Start Unit is continuing to develop approaches for piloting, from April 2006, ways of ensuring that particularly disadvantaged 2-year-old children, including homeless children, receive Sure Start services.

Transformation Fund

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what the annual £125 million Transformation Fund announced in the pre-Budget report will be allocated from 2006.

Margaret Hodge: The 10-year child-care strategy, published in December 2004, set out the Government's vision for every child to have the best start in life and for parents to have more choice about how to balance work and family life. Our long term aim is for affordable, flexible, high quality child care to be available for all families with children under 14. We are making substantial additional investment in early years and child care over the next three years: the Sure Start budget will more than double from this year to 2007–08. This includes a new Transformation Fund of £125 million a year from 2006–07.
	The aim of the Transformation Fund is to ensure a more sustainable approach to investment in child care. The fund will be distributed to local authorities from April 2006. The fund will complement the child care funding already available and support investment by local authorities in high quality, affordable, flexible and sustainable child care provision.
	Options for making best possible use of this additional revenue are currently under discussion. We are reviewing the domestic and international experience of investing to support the quality and sustainability of child care, and the lessons learned will be used to inform decisions on how the Transformation Fund should be spent. An announcement will be made in due course.

World Darts Championship

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department spent advertising at the World Professional Darts Championships.

Ivan Lewis: My Department did not spend any money on advertising at the World Darts Championship. However, £6,167 was spent on the provision of promotional materials to encourage darts fans to phone the National Learning Advice Line and find out about courses to improve their maths and English skills. The materials were part of the Department's ongoing campaign to promote adult literacy, language and numeracy skills.

PRIME MINISTER

Bahrain

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the King of Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I last met the King of Bahrain on 1 January 2005. We discussed a wide range of issues including UK/Bahrain relations and regional issues.

Baronetcies

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will re-consider his decision on continuance of the practice of recommendations to the Queen on the creation of hereditary baronetcies.

Tony Blair: No.

Congressional Medal of Honour

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to collect his Congressional Medal of Honour.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 18 May 2004, Official Report, column 878W.

Engagements

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he met Lord Irvine on 12 June 2003; and what was discussed.

Tony Blair: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed.

EU Presidency

Michael Moore: To ask the Prime Minister what the Government's priorities for the European Council will be during the United Kingdom's Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The overall Council agenda for 2005 is set out in the UK/Luxembourg Annual Operating Programme, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. It is too early to determine which particular issues from the this overall agenda will be discussed at the European Council.

European Commissioner for External Trade

David Drew: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has held with the European Commissioner for External Trade on additional roles he has been asked to perform for the European Commission outside his portfolio responsibilities.

Tony Blair: I have regular discussions with the European Commissioner for External Trade on all aspects of European business.

Freedom of Information

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his office in the last three years.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Constitutional Affairs today.

India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to visit India during the term of the UK's presidency of the G8.

Tony Blair: I plan to visit India during the UK's presidency of the EU.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers were informed about the United States military planning document on the Iraq war which contained references to P-day, A-day and G-day; and on what dates.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1771W.

Middle East

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister how he plans to take forward the G8 initiative on the Arab world which began at Atlanta, Georgia.

Tony Blair: As part of our efforts to encourage political, social and economic reform in the Middle East, we will work with our G8 and regional partners during our G8 presidency to ensure implementation of the Broader Middle East and North Africa Plan of Support agreed last year.

Serbia and Montenegro

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what the main conclusions were of his meeting with the President of Serbia and Montenegro on Monday 17 January.

Tony Blair: I discussed a wide range of issues with the President of Serbia and Montenegro at our meeting on 17 January, including the need for full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and for Belgrade to engage constructively with UNMIK (UN Mission in Kosovo) and the PISG (Provisional Institutions of Self Government) for both immediate and long-term stability. We also discussed how best to support further contacts between UK and Serbia and Montenegro companies to facilitate further trade and investment.

Official Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister which official residences may be occupied by Ministers; and which residences have been occupied by (a) Ministers, staff and their families and (b) others in each year since 2000.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) of 20 January 2005, Official Report, column 1037W.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the special advisers who accompanied him on each of his visits abroad between (a) 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 and (b) 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Tony Blair: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying me on overseas visits is included in the list. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Management Code.

UN Charter on the Rights of the Child

Alan Duncan: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers have had with the United States Administration about ratification of the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child.

Tony Blair: The United States signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on 16 February 1995. The current Administration has made clear that it does not intend to ratify it. Neither I nor other Ministers have raised the Convention with our US counterparts. We have regularly supported EU-sponsored resolutions on the Rights of the Child at the UN General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Angela Cannings

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason Angela Cannings was refused (a) compensation and (b) an ex gratia payment for wrongful conviction and imprisonment; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Angela Cannings did not meet the criteria set out within the provisions of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 for a statutory payment of compensation for her wrongful conviction. Nor did she meet the criteria for an ex gratia payment of compensation under the terms of the then Home Secretary's statement to the House of Commons on 29 November 1985, Official Report, columns 691–92.

Antisocial Behaviour

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the effect of having separate definitions of antisocial behaviour in the Housing Act 1996 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1999.

Hazel Blears: Antisocial behaviour is defined in the Part 1 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 for the purposes of seeking Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) as behaviour that is likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress. For the purposes of seeking a Housing Injunction under Section 153A of the Housing Act 1996 antisocial behaviour is defined as conduct which is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance. It is important to note that both definitions relate specifically to these legislative measures and are not to be taken as general definitions of what constitutes anti-social behaviour.
	Both definitions are wide enough to encompass most practitioners own understanding of antisocial behaviour and are designed to ensure that these legislative measures can be applied to tackle a broad range of antisocial conduct.

Antisocial Behaviour

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department has given to agencies on assessing whether behaviour is anti-social.

Hazel Blears: While there are no fixed guidelines the key to categorising behaviour as antisocial must be in consideration of its impact on others. The term 'antisocial behaviour' includes a variety of behaviour covering a whole complex of selfish and unacceptable activity that can blight the quality of community life. Other terms such as 'nuisance', 'neighbour disputes' and 'disorder' are also used to describe some of this behaviour. A legal definition of behaving in an antisocial manner is found in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, this definition is used in relation to anti-social behaviour orders. The definition of antisocial behaviour being
	"that is to say in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as himself".
	Many agencies tackling antisocial behaviour have adopted this definition for more general purposes.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures he has in place to keep track of people waiting for asylum applications to be processed.

Des Browne: As part of the initial screening process asylum seekers are required to provide proof of residence at a particular address. Residence at that address is then made a condition of their temporary admission into the United Kingdom, to which other conditions may be added, principally a requirement that the asylum seeker reports regularly to the Immigration Service (IS) at a dedicated reporting centre or local police station. Verification of the place of residence occurs during reporting. In addition, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) make regular checks, including personal visits, to ensure that individuals still reside at the recorded address.
	IND maintains a central database containing the information supplied, which is also included in the individual Home Office (HO) file. All applicants, and their representatives, are informed of the obligation to notify the HO of any subsequent change of address throughout the asylum process. This may be done either in writing or in person to the nearest IS reporting centre or local enforcement office.

Bobbybanks

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Department will respond to the proposal from Wirral police force for Bobbybanks.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 January 2005
	Merseyside police forwarded a paper entitled "Policing the Demographic Trough—The Policing Bank Concept", to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on 2 February 2004. A reply was sent by HMIC on 11 March 2004.

Burglary (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries there were in each London borough in (a) each year since 2001 and (b) each month to date in 2004.

Hazel Blears: The information requested has been supplied by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and is contained in the table.
	
		Recorded offences of burglary by London borough -- Number of offences
		
			 Area 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,200 2,045 2,127 
			 Barnet 4,056 4,003 4,045 
			 Bexley 2,382 2,360 2,306 
			 Brent 4,134 4,131 3,960 
			 Bromley 3,317 3,827 3,301 
			 Camden 5,782 5,975 5,108 
			 Croydon 3,871 4,463 3,535 
			 Ealing 4,628 4,419 4,427 
			 Enfield 4,136 4,538 3,898 
			 Greenwich 2,801 2,995 2,913 
			 Hackney 4,363 4,591 4,493 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,006 2,971 3,016 
			 Haringey 4,655 4,469 4,277 
			 Harrow 2,650 2,804 2,707 
			 Havering 2,485 2,515 2,073 
			 Heathrow Airport 71 71 59 
			 Hillingdon 3,508 3,753 3,373 
			 Hounslow 3,165 3,407 3,494 
			 Islington 4,589 4,591 3,952 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,117 2,558 2,475 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,237 1,078 924 
			 Lambeth 7,121 6,061 5,125 
			 Lewisham 3,315 3,778 3,828 
			 Merton 2,016 1,962 2,005 
			 Newham 3,911 3,587 3,496 
			 Redbridge 2,866 2,904 3,023 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,268 2,135 1,800 
			 Southwark 4,784 5,101 4,724 
			 Sutton 1,714 1,560 1,450 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,378 3,443 3,301 
			 Waltham Forest 3,672 4,053 3,381 
			 Wandsworth 4,216 4,638 3,872 
			 Westminster 5,945 5,272 4,449 
		
	
	
		Number of offences
		
			  2004 
			  January February March April May 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 203 199 223 184 209 
			 Barnet 286 322 342 284 308 
			 Bexley 192 125 176 136 131 
			 Brent 321 280 346 340 352 
			 Bromley 312 330 341 308 245 
			 Camden 388 337 344 344 331 
			 Croydon 383 390 308 251 227 
			 Ealing 388 412 396 335 341 
			 Enfield 382 316 316 304 250 
			 Greenwich 298 296 263 264 272 
			 Hackney 350 360 340 300 281 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 220 193 223 211 172 
			 Haringey 346 300 291 321 276 
			 Harrow 217 204 206 169 174 
			 Havering 182 220 212 218 174 
			 Heathrow Airport 2 0 1 2 8 
			 Hillingdon 290 236 239 243 255 
			 Hounslow 277 241 272 230 168 
			 Islington 321 357 353 319 293 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 226 220 257 208 264 
			 Kingston upon Thames 76 74 78 88 66 
			 Lambeth 374 342 341 377 341 
			 Lewisham 303 249 325 286 358 
			 Merton 209 139 139 141 148 
			 Newham 252 260 249 236 275 
			 Redbridge 270 251 240 228 262 
			 Richmond upon Thames 139 182 181 145 165 
			 Southwark 457 327 264 325 351 
			 Sutton 103 84 130 129 75 
			 Tower Hamlets 222 194 207 225 249 
			 Waltham Forest 296 236 240 249 274 
			 Wandsworth 268 259 368 348 271 
			 Westminster 387 291 343 344 338 
		
	
	
		Number of offences
		
			  2004 
			  June July August September October 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 196 162 191 166 163 
			 Barnet 334 326 275 294 368 
			 Bexley 160 146 149 176 146 
			 Brent 309 344 319 327 308 
			 Bromley 222 209 252 267 322 
			 Camden 325 344 373 405 365 
			 Croydon 239 257 267 268 268 
			 Ealing 300 315 302 340 364 
			 Enfield 267 237 279 225 290 
			 Greenwich 272 236 209 226 286 
			 Hackney 367 293 289 338 301 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 212 246 308 225 269 
			 Haringey 268 322 346 320 346 
			 Harrow 178 149 167 171 192 
			 Havering 187 188 226 169 185 
			 Heathrow Airport 3 3 2 2 6 
			 Hillingdon 203 207 208 212 269 
			 Hounslow 231 257 261 242 298 
			 Islington 308 283 287 292 317 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 217 246 218 229 240 
			 Kingston upon Thames 65 85 95 76 92 
			 Lambeth 337 358 373 381 296 
			 Lewisham 251 302 321 304 331 
			 Merton 119 152 136 154 162 
			 Newham 264 228 257 271 304 
			 Redbridge 252 237 228 230 284 
			 Richmond upon Thames 159 184 183 154 160 
			 Southwark 364 339 344 409 361 
			 Sutton 90 103 119 130 131 
			 Tower Hamlets 333 251 244 239 272 
			 Waltham Forest 260 255 237 272 280 
			 Wandsworth 244 323 380 335 254 
			 Westminster 342 292 294 360 409 
		
	
	The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Child Custody

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have died in custody in each year since 1990.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The table shows the number of juvenile deaths in custody since 1990.
	
		
			 Calendar year Number of juvenile deaths 
		
		
			 1990 3 
			 1991 1 
			 1992 1 
			 1993 1 
			 1994 2 
			 1995 2 
			 1996 1 
			 1997 0 
			 1998 3 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 3 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 2 
			 Total 26

Child Custody

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are in custody in the secure estate as a result of criminal behaviour, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender, (c) placement and (d) constituency of home address.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The information requested is recorded in the table. The figures were supplied by the Youth Justice Board and relate to 13 January 2004. Data are not available by constituency of home address, and have been provided by Government office region.
	
		Gender (all)
		
			  Description 
			 Count of DOB/Accommodation type East Midlands Eastern London North East North West South East 
		
		
			 Age 11   
			 LASCH — — — — 1 — 
			 Total — — — — 1 — 
			
			 Age 12   
			 LASCH — 2 1 1 — 2 
			 STC — 1 — — — — 
			 Total — 3 1 1 — 2 
			
			 Age 13   
			 LASCH 3 1 3 1 7 — 
			 STC 2 — 5 — — 3 
			 Total 5 1 8 1 7 3 
			 Age 14   
			 LASCH 5 2 7 6 16 12 
			 STC 7 5 10 1 3 9 
			 Total 12 7 17 7 19 21 
			
			 Age 15   
			 LASCH 8 1 6 4 14 2 
			 STC 7 10 18 2 6 2 
			 YOI 22 12 49 7 42 16 
			 Total 37 23 73 13 62 20 
			
			 Age 16   
			 LASCH 3 3 6 3 13 1 
			 STC 7 4 16 2 10 10 
			 YOI 47 33 127 22 132 58 
			 Total 57 40 149 27 155 69 
			
			 Age 17   
			 LASCH — — — — 1 2 
			 STC 1 — 3 — 1 2 
			 YOI 94 78 238 51 224 98 
			 Total 95 78 241 51 226 102 
			
			 Grand total 206 152 489 100 470 217 
		
	
	
		
			  Description 
			 Count of DOB/ Accommodation type South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire Grand total 
		
		
			 Age 11  
			 LASCH — — — 1 2 
			 Total — — — 1 2 
			   
			 Age 12  
			 LASCH — — — 1 7 
			 STC — — 1 — 2 
			 Total — — 1 1 9 
			   
			 Age 13  
			 LASCH — 3 1 6 25 
			 STC — — 2 — 12 
			 Total — 3 3 6 37 
			   
			 Age 14  
			 LASCH 7 4 9 15 83 
			 STC — — 13 7 55 
			 Total 7 4 22 22 138 
			   
			 Age 15  
			 LASCH 2 5 5 11 58 
			 STC 1 1 13 4 64 
			 YOI 10 9 22 45 234 
			 Total 13 15 40 60 356 
			   
			 Age 16  
			 LASCH 4 3 1 10 47 
			 STC 1 1 9 6 66 
			 YOI 32 44 86 90 671 
			 Total 37 48 96 106 784 
			   
			 Age 17  
			 LASCH — 3 1 2 9 
			 STC 1 1 1 — 10 
			 YOI 50 77 151 169 1,230 
			 Total 51 81 153 171 1,249 
			   
			 Grand total 108 151 315 367 2,575

Community Support Officers (London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) community support officers and (b) street wardens are employed within the Greater London area.

Hazel Blears: As at the end of September 2004, when figures were last published, there were 1,809 community support officers (CSOs) in the Greater London area.
	Neighbourhood and street wardens are dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, who informs me that there are 321 wardens in Greater London funded by his Department. There are other wardens in addition to this operating in Greater London and elsewhere but they are not funded centrally and there is no central record of their numbers.

Coroners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquests in the jurisdiction of the Cleveland Coroner were heard in (a) August, (b) September, (c) October, (d) November and (e) December 2004 by (i) the coroner, (ii) the deputy coroner and (iii) the assistant deputy coroner.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 January 2005
	There are two coroners within the area of the former county of Cleveland. The information requested is not held centrally.

Coroners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salaries of the (a) coroner, (b) deputy coroner and (c) assistant deputy coroner of Cleveland were at 1 December 2004.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 January 2004
	This is a matter for the relevant local authorities. There are two coroners within the area of the former county of Cleveland. The two authorities responsible are Middlesbrough borough council (for the Teesside coroner) and Hartlepool borough council (for the Hartlepool coroner). They lead for the other authorities in the former county.

Coroners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many days in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 (i) the Coroner, (ii) the Deputy Coroner and (iii) the Assistant Deputy Coroner for Cleveland sat on inquests.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 January 2005
	This information is not available centrally. There are two coroners within the former county of Cleveland. Home Office statistics on case numbers in Teesside show that 274 inquests were held in 2002 and 273 in 2003; and that 82 inquests were held in 2002 and 59 in 2003. Data (in Hartlepool) for 2004 are not yet available.

Coroners

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many days on average in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 (i) coroners, (ii) deputy coroners and (iii) assistant deputy coroners in the north-east region sat on inquests.

Paul Goggins: This information is not available. Data on days of sittings are not collected centrally.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan will receive a reply to his letter of 25 November 2004 to the Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality regarding the Sectors Based Scheme, Arrangements for Foreign Employees.

Des Browne: I regret that the original copy of the letter of 25 November appears to have gone astray, which is why there has been no reply until now.
	There is nothing in the Sectors Based Scheme itself that requires a person to sign on with the police. However, where someone given leave under that scheme is a "relevant foreign national" for the purposes of part 10 of the Immigration Rules, he would normally be required to register with the police.
	The arrangements relating to the administration of the police registration scheme at a local level are a matter for the individual police force concerned, and the matter raised in the letter is therefore one for Grampian police to consider.

Correspondence

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer letters from the hon. Member for Hornchurch dated 29 January, 1 October and 12 November 2004, concerning the case of Brian Kent, reference M19306/4; and if he will make a statement on whether computer problems led to the delay.

Des Browne: I can confirm that the letters referred to by my hon. Friend were received by the Home Office. Although a reply to his letter of 29 January 2004 was drafted, it is not clear why this was not sent and why his two further letters were not acted upon more quickly. Mr. Kent has now commenced action to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights and we are considering our response. It is expected that the Home Office will be in a position to send a full reply to my hon. Friend's letter of 12 November within four weeks.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many snatch thefts have been reported to (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police in each year since 1997; and how many reports led to a (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to offences of theft from the person. Tables 1 and 2 give the number of offences recorded by the police in the Essex police force area and the Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Recorded crime data are published on a financial year basis and data at CDRP level for theft from the person are only available from 2001–02.
	Table 3 gives the number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty in the Essex police force area and South East Essex petty sessional area. Court proceedings data are published on a calendar year basis. Data for 2004 will not be available until the autumn.
	Because recorded crime deals with offences and court proceedings deals with defendants, the two data sets are not directly comparable.
	
		Table 1: Offences of theft from the person recorded by the police, 1997–98 to 2001–02
		
			   Number of offences 
		
		
			 Essex police force area 1997–98(40) 631 
			  1998–99(41) 717 
			  1999–2000 693 
			  2000–01 879 
			  2001–02 1,449 
			 Southend Crime and Disorder 1997–98 n/a 
			 Reduction Partnership area 1998–99 n/a 
			  1999–2000 n/a 
			  2000–01 n/a 
			  2001–02 275 
		
	
	n/a—not available.
	(40) The number of crimes recorded using the coverage and rules in use until 31 March 1998.
	(41) The number of crimes recorded using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.
	Note:
	The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Offences of theft from the person recorded by the police, 2002–03 and 2003–04
		
			   Number of offences 
		
		
			 Essex police force area 2002–03 1,810 
			  2003–04 1,783 
			 Southend Crime and Disorder 2002–03 354 
			 Reduction Partnership area 2003–04 299 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	
		Table 3 Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts, 1997 to 2003(42)
		
			  Theft from the person 
			 Area and year Proceeded against Found guilty(43) 
		
		
			 Essex police force area 
			 1997 140 158 
			 1998 192 164 
			 1999 139 127 
			 2000 70 55 
			 2001 165 112 
			 2002 177 138 
			 2003 204 173 
			 South East Essex petty sessional area(44) 
			 1997 43 44 
			 1998 66 41 
			 1999 61 51 
			 2000 20 18 
			 2001 42 29 
			 2002 45 30 
			 2003 36 28 
		
	
	(42) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(43) For South East Essex PSA the guilty figures include those found guilty at the Crown court where South East Essex PSA was the committing court.
	(44) Covers Southend and includes some parts of Rayleigh, Benfleet and Canvey.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of gun crime have been reported to (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police in each year since 1997; and how many reports led to a (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table and relates to crimes recorded by the police in Essex in which firearms were reported to have been used. This information is not collected centrally for Southend.
	With regard to prosecutions and convictions, this information is not available centrally as the individual circumstances of the offence are not collected.
	
		Firearms offences recorded by the police in Essex -- Number of offences
		
			  Air-weapons Non air-weapons Total 
		
		
			 1997 211 58 269 
			 1998–99(45) 270 47 317 
			 1999–2000 283 61 344 
			 2000–01 279 77 356 
			 2001–02 448 98 546 
			 2002–03(46) 584 148 732 
		
	
	(45) There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998.
	(46) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures may have been inflated by this.

Crime

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of crimes reported within the Greater London area has been cleared up in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: The clear up rate for all offences recorded in the Greater London region was 14 per cent. in 2001–02,15 per cent. in 2002–03 and 16 per cent. in 2003–04.

Criminals (Release of Identity)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the policy of his Department is on publishing the identities of criminals wanted by the police:
	(2)  what the policy of the police is on publishing the identities of criminals wanted (a) for questioning and (b) to appear in court.

Hazel Blears: The issue of publishing the identities of persons suspected of involvement in an offence and wanted by the police either for questioning or for court appearance is an operational matter for the individual chief officer police.
	Guidance is published by the Association of Chief Police Officers Media Advisory Group on using public media to locate or identify individuals. The guidance is available at http://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/index.html.

Departmental Expenditure (Asylum)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on the delivery of the asylum process in the last year for which figures are available.

Des Browne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) resources cover a wide range of activities including the asylum process and it is not possible to identify separately the costs of the asylum process. Total IND resource expenditure for 2002–03 was £1,863 million.

Deportation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to accelerate the deportation of foreign nationals who remain in detention, having completed their sentence; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Detention under Immigration Act powers is only used where there is no reasonable alternative once a deportee reaches the end of his or her prison sentence but cannot be immediately removed. The common barriers to removal are the unavailability of valid travel documentation, an outstanding application for leave to remain in the United Kingdom or an appeal against the decision to make a deportation order.
	The Immigration and Nationality Department's (IND) criminal casework team recruited an additional 16 staff in November 2004 to ensure that the deportation cases are considered at an earlier stage into the sentence and to afford those being detained greater priority. It is additionally currently recruiting a further seven immigration officers to increase the number of surgery visits conducted across the Prison Service estate in order to complete applications for replacement passports at an earlier stage where they have been lost or destroyed.
	IND has no influence over the determination of an appeal as this properly falls to the independent appellate authorities who in turn are responsible to the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). However, IND does highlight to the independent appellate authorities that a person is detained in order for the appeal to be heard as quickly as possible.

Deportation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in the prison estate are held on remand awaiting deportation having completed their sentences; how many prisoners were held on this basis in 2004; and what the average period was for which such prisoners were held on remand.

Des Browne: Information on the number of people who were detained in prison establishments awaiting deportation after completion of a criminal sentence is not available.
	Work is on-going to improve the quality of data held on those people detained under Immigration Act powers in prison establishments.

Domestic Violence

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether funding for domestic violence advocacy services will be ring-fenced;
	(2)  whether domestic violence advocacy services will include assistance in respect of (a) justice systems, (b) health, (c) housing and (d) benefits;
	(3)  what plans he has to ensure that the development of domestic violence advocacy services will (a) identify and assess existing provision of local Women's Aid and other domestic violence advocacy services and (b) build on what already exists.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 20 December 2004
	We recognise that advocacy services are an important element in supporting victims of domestic violence, both in and outside the criminal justice system. It is important that there is a range of services for all victims of domestic violence locally, including advocacy provision, which is the responsibility of local partnerships.
	Each partnership is required to produce a strategy every three years for reducing crime and disorder in their area, following an audit to establish need. These audits were undertaken earlier this year, and partnerships should now be identifying what the needs of their local communities are, including for services addressing domestic violence. They will then set out how these needs will be met in their three year strategies, bearing in mind their budgets, which come from a range of sources. There is no ring fenced funding for domestic violence advocacy services from the Home Office, though the Department allocated those local partnerships with responsibility for crime and disorder £74 million in 2004–05 through the Building Safer Communities Fund. Among a variety of interventions, this could be spent on domestic violence services.
	How local services are then commissioned is a matter for local areas, though we would recommend that they consider working in partnership with voluntary and community organisations where appropriate.
	The precise remit of individual advocacy services will be based on identified local need, and may include a range of emotional, legal and practical support.
	To support partnerships in developing their three year strategies and considering the range of domestic violence services that might be appropriate in their area, we have recently launched 'Developing Domestic Violence Partnerships: A Guide for Partnerships', which includes a section on advocacy and where partnerships can go for further advice. The guidance can be found at http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/domesticviolence46.doc.

Drink Driving (Wales)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for drink driving there have been in Wales in each year since 1996.

Paul Goggins: Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database on findings of guilt for offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs 1996 to 2002 (latest available) is given in the table.
	Data for 2003 will be available in March 2005.
	
		Findings of guilt at all courts for offences of driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs(47), Wales, 1996–2002
		
			 Findings of guilt Number of offences 
		
		
			 1996 6,053 
			 1997 6,441 
			 1998 6,407 
			 1999 5,797 
			 2000 6,158 
			 2001 6,058 
			 2002 6,032 
		
	
	(47) Including the following offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988: Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment). [s. 4(1)]
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit, [s. 5(1)(a)]
	Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time, he/she was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle. [s. 7(6)]
	In charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment). [s. 4(2)]
	In charge of a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit, [s. 5(1)(b)]
	In charge of a motor vehicle and failing to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time, he/she was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle. [s. 7(6)]
	Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test. [s. 6(4)]
	Excluding offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 3A: Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

Drug-related Crime

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug-related crimes in (a) South Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) England and Wales were linked to heroin in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Recorded crime figures, which are used to measure trends in crime, include statistics on drugs offences, such as possession, and on property crimes, such as burglary, do not record whether the latter are related to an offender's drug habits. They also do not separately identify drug offences relating to heroin. There are therefore no figures currently available for the total number of crime in different areas linked to heroin. Statistics on the number of convictions for drug offences do contain more information about the type of drugs involved but only provide national figures.

Drug-related Crime

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes in (a) South Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) England and Wales have been linked to drugs in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: Recorded crime figures, which are used to measure trends in crime, include statistics on drugs offences, such as possession, and on property crimes, such as burglary, do not record whether the latter are related to an offender's drug habits. There are therefore no figures currently available for the total number of crimes in different areas linked to drugs.
	Information on recorded drug offences, including trafficking and possession can be found in table 2.04 of the Home Office "Crime in England and Wales 2003–04" Statistics, which can be accessed via the RDS website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb1004 .pdf
	These figures are not broken down by drug type.

Drug-related Crime

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years have been arrested for possessing class A drugs in each of the last seven years.

Caroline Flint: Figures on the number of people under the age of 18 years arrested for possessing Class A drugs are not collated. However we do have data on the number of people under the age of 17 years found guilty, cautioned or dealt with by compounding for unlawful possession of all drugs.
	This information, which is only available since 2001, can found in Table 3.8 of the Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics which can be accessed via the Research Development and Statistics website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb0804.pdf.

Drug-related Crime

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years have been arrested for selling Class A drugs in each of the last seven years.

Caroline Flint: Figures on the number of people under the age of 18 years arrested for selling Class A drugs are not collated. However we do have data on the number of people under the age of 17 years found guilty, cautioned or dealt with by compounding for unlawful supply of all drugs.
	This information, which is only available since 2001, can found in Table 3.8 of the Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics which can be accessed via the RDS website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb0804.pdf.

Evidence

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recommendations on disclosure from (a) the study commissioned by his Department, (b) the thematic review by the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and (c) Lord Justice Auld's review of the Criminal Courts have been implemented.

Paul Goggins: The prosecution disclosure recommendations made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Inspectorate and the Home Office commissioned research were taken forward by a joint police/CPS project which produced revised joint operational instructions issued in November 2002. This was followed up by training based on the new instructions which began in April 2003. The Government's response to Sir Robin Auld's recommendations, including those on disclosure, is set out in the Annex to the Criminal Justice White Paper: Justice for All (CM 5563) issued in July 2002.
	Lord Justice Auld's recommendation that the two stage prosecution disclosure test should be replaced by a single test was included in part 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 as were provisions aimed at addressing the findings of the Home Office commissioned research that many defence statements are inadequate. A public consultation exercise relating to the implementation of Part 5 of the 2003 Act ended last month and the responses are being evaluated with a view to implementation in April this year.

Evidence

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the admission of similar fact evidence in trials.

Paul Goggins: The common law "similar fact" rule allowed the prosecution to rely on a defendant's previous misconduct in certain circumstances. However the Bad Character provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which were implemented on 15 December 2004, abolished this and other common law rules governing the admissibility of such evidence in criminal proceedings. In their place the Act sets out a number of "gateways" through which evidence of a defendant's bad character may be admissible, where relevant and probative. One of these is where such evidence is
	"relevant to an important matter in issue between the defendant and the prosecution".
	The Act makes clear that such
	"matters in issue between the defendant and the prosecution"
	include the question whether the defendant has a propensity to commit offences of the kind with which he is charged.

Firearms

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been proceeded against for the conversion of firearms in England and Wales in each year since 1993.

Caroline Flint: Statistics on the number of people proceeded against for the conversion of firearms is shown in the table.
	Statistics for 2004 will be available in autumn 2005.
	
		Number of persons proceeded against at the magistrates courts for conversion of firearm offences, England and Wales 1993–2003(48)
		
			 Offence description Principal statutes 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 
		
		
			 Shortening a shotgun or other smooth bore gun Firearms Act 1968 s4(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 s157 Sch 8 Part III 29 22 27 26 14 
			 Conversion of firearms Firearms Act 1968 s4(3) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 s157 Sch 8 Part III 9 10 5 5 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Offence description Principal statutes 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Shortening a shotgun or other smooth bore gun Firearms Act 1968 s4(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 s157 Sch 8 Part III 12 15 6 7 9 5 
			 Conversion of firearms Firearms Act 1968 s4(3) as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 s157 Sch 8 Part III 4 3 1 3 4 3 
		
	
	(48) These data are on the principal offence basis. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

Fixed Penalty Notices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many penalty notices for disorder for consumption of alcohol in designated public places have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(2)  how many penalty notices for disorder for using public telecommunications systems for sending messages known to be false in order to cause annoyance have been issued by (a) Essex Police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(3)  how many penalty notices for disorder for wasting police time or giving false reports have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(4)  how many penalty notices for disorder for disorderly behaviour while drunk in a public place have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(5)  how many penalty notices for disorder for buying or attempting to buy alcohol for consumption in a bar in licensed premises by a person under 18 have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(6)  how many penalty notices for disorder for throwing stones etc at trains or trackside buildings on railways have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(7)  how many penalty notices for disorder for trespassing on a railway have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(8)  how many penalty notices for disorder for knowingly giving a false alarm to a fire brigade have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(9)  how many penalty notices for disorder for alcohol related offences have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004;
	(10)  how many penalty notices for disorder for throwing fireworks in a thoroughfare have been issued by (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police since the scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004.

Hazel Blears: Data are collected centrally at police force level only. The following table gives the number of notices issued, by offence, by Essex police from January to the end of November 2004.
	
		Penalty notices for disorder issued in Essex from January to November 2004, by offence (provisional figures)
		
			 Offence Number issued 
		
		
			 Breach of fireworks curfew 1 
			 Causing harassment, alarm or distress 1,559 
			 Consume alcohol in designated public place 8 
			 Destroying/damaging property (max £500) 16 
			 Drunk and disorderly 644 
			 Drunk in highway 23 
			 Knowingly giving false alarm 1 
			 Possession by under 18 of adult firework 2 
			 Possession of Category 4 firework 1 
			 Purchase of alcohol in bar in licensed premises for  person under 18 1 
			 Sending false messages 5 
			 Theft (retail under £200) 45 
			 Throwing fireworks 5 
			 Throwing stones at a train 2 
			 Trespassing on a railway 11 
			 Wasting police time 33 
			 Total 2,357

Foreign Students

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of increasing charges to foreign students for leave to remain in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: In September 2004 a joint project team—comprising representatives from the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office and the British Council—was asked to improve the evidence base around international students, and to undertake an assessment of the likely impact of increased leave to remain fees to attract more international students to the UK.
	The outcomes of this work will be made available, alongside a Regulatory Impact Assessment for the education sector, when the Government announces its response to the recent Home Office Consultation on "Review of Charges for Immigration Applications".

Foreign Students

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) others about (i) the contribution to the UK economy made by foreign students and (ii) the proposals to increase the charges for leave to remain in the UK.

Des Browne: We hold frequent and regular discussions with other Departments, including the Treasury and the DFES, at both ministerial and official level, which involve consideration of the economic contribution made to the UK by overseas students.
	The Home Office consultation paper, "Review of Charges for Immigration applications" in September 2004, was agreed within Government, as will the decision on the final fee levels. The consultation has engaged a wide range of stakeholders and individuals, including UKCOSA and Universities UK, among others.

Fraud

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of Chip and PIN technology on levels of fraud.

Hazel Blears: Chip and PIN is a finance and retail industry initiative that aims to reduce plastic card fraud by requiring card transactions to be authorised by the customer keying in a PIN rather than signing a receipt. At the same time the introduction of microchips into cards will help prevent the production of counterfeit cards (skimming). The public trial of Chip and PIN was a success and national roll out has now started, with a view to the majority of card transactions being Chip and PIN by 2005.
	The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) estimates that without Chip and PIN card fraud might have risen to £1 billion by the end of the decade. APACS forecasts that in 2007 total card fraud losses on UK issued cards currently looks set to fall to approximately £330 million.

Fraud

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on card fraud; and what steps the Government are taking to make the use of cards as a method of payment safer.

Caroline Flint: On 26 April 2002, the Government launched a two-year pilot of a unique policing unit (the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit(DCPCU) based in London, which works closely with the banking industry to reduce organised card and cheque fraud, using intelligence largely provided by the card industry. The Home Office funded 25 per cent. of the unit's costs (£1.4 million over two years) during the pilot with the remainder being met by the card industry. An independent evaluation of the unit showed that it had been successful in detecting or preventing a significant amount of cheque and credit card fraud. Government are delighted that the unit is now continuing with full financial support provided by the card industry. The Home Office continues to chair the Steering Group.
	We have been encouraging financial and retail sectors to work towards early implementation of more secure systems to combat fraud. This includes Chip and PIN, a finance and retail industry initiative that aims to reduce plastic card fraud by requiring card transactions to be authorised by the customer keying in a PIN rather than signing a receipt. At the same time the introduction of microchips into cards will help prevent the production of counterfeit cards (skimming). The public trial of Chip and PIN was a success and national roll out is under way.
	The Home Office publishes fraud prevention advice on its website and has launched a website to combat internet fraud. The e-tailing mini site forms part of the crime reduction website and provides information to help both consumers and businesses protect themselves when buying and selling over the internet.
	The Home Office has also published, jointly with APACS, a leaflet for members of the public about safe credit card use. Supplies of the leaflet have been sent to all police forces and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership's in England and Wales. It is also available on the Home Office website.

Identity Cards

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many centres there will be in (a) Orkney and Shetland, (b) the Highlands and Islands and (c) Scotland where biometric data can be collected when identity cards are introduced.

Des Browne: No decisions have been taken on the number and location of centres where biometric information may be recorded. Not all centres would necessarily need to be at fixed locations. The recent biometric enrolment pilot included a fixed location in Glasgow but also conducted trials using mobile equipment. In Scotland, the mobile demonstration unit visited Methol and Dunfermline.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the facial biometric planned for (a) passports and (b) identity cards will (i) constitute a scan of a photograph provided by the applicant and (ii) involve the use of special technology which will require the individual to attend a processing centre.

Des Browne: The facial biometric planned for the ePassport will be presented as a photographic image within the passport, as is currently the case, and will additionally be held as data within the new passport's biometric chip. Data will continue to be captured by scanning a photograph submitted by the applicant. The photograph must conform to the recently agreed and issued standards. Image capture and its reproduction in the two forms required by the new passports will not require an applicant's presence at a processing centre or elsewhere.
	The biometric requirements for the identity card are not yet complete. However, it is expected that the applicant will be required to attend an enrolment centre in order to have images of other biometrics, such as fingerprints and irises recorded. Therefore it is likely that a facial image will be recorded at same time, allowing more control over the lighting and the size and quality of the image than might be the case if a photograph supplied by the applicant were used.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution the Police Information Technology Organisation has made to the development of the identity cards scheme.

Des Browne: The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has helped the identity cards programme team to identify the uses which the police might make of the identity cards scheme and the requirements which it will be necessary for the scheme to support in order to deliver benefits to the police. PITO's advice has helped to ensure that the possible uses the police might make of the scheme are feasible within the context of existing and planned police systems and that technological compatibility has been considered at all stages. Additionally, they have shared their experience of the procurement and implementation of automated fingerprint identification systems.

Identity Cards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent consultants from PA Consulting are advising his Department on the design of the national identity card programme; what the average annual cost per consultant is; what the total cost of the consultants is; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The number of PA consultants working on the identity cards programme varies from day-to-day according to the needs of the programme. In December the full time equivalent of 32.5 staff were employed at an average daily cost of £1,093 each. Total expenditure on PA Consulting Group from May to December 2004 was £5,632,553.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of public resistance on the take-up rates of identity cards.

Des Browne: In the early years of the scheme, the large majority of ID cards will be issued as people renew or apply for passports. As the case for upgrading the security of passports is well understood and supported by the general public, the Government do not anticipate any significant public resistance.
	When the Government announced their policy to proceed with a scheme in November 2003, they stated that in considering any decision to move to compulsion they would want to be confident that roll out during the first phase had delivered significant coverage of the population and that there was clear public acceptance for the principle of a compulsory ID card which would be used to access free public services.

Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of migrants from EU accession states who have failed to register with the workplace monitoring scheme since entering the UK.

Des Browne: Under the Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration) Regulations 2004, workers requiring registration who do not make an application within one month of starting work will be employed illegally.
	An employer who continues to employ a worker requiring registration, who has not applied to register within one month of starting work, may be committing a criminal offence and could be liable to a fine of £5,000.
	The Government are supporting compliance of the Scheme. Information is available on the 'Working in the UK' website www.workingintheuk.gov.uk and by telephoning the Worker Registration Scheme on 0114 259 6262. Employers can also find information and advice on the Home Office website www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk and from the Employers' Helpline (0845 010 6677). Management information published on 10 November 2004 showed that between 1 May and 30 September just under 91,000 workers applied to register with the Worker Registration Scheme (my statement of that date refers).
	There is no current estimate of Accession Country nationals working without registering.

Immigration

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals who have been granted full British citizenship since 1997 have had their status revoked following the imposition of a custodial sentence for crimes committed in the UK.

Des Browne: There have been no removals of citizenship since 1973. The power to deprive a person of his or her citizenship on grounds of ordinary criminality (as opposed to actions seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the United Kingdom) was rescinded by section 4 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Immigration

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in the average time UK and other EU arriving passengers have to wait to pass through immigration over the past 12 months.

Des Browne: Following the strengthening of the EU control in 2004 some passengers may have noticed an increase in clearance times. However, there is no specific measurement of the time taken to clear UK and other EEA arriving passengers through UK immigration controls so I am unable to provide specific details of any increase.
	The UK Immigration Service is committed to clearing all bona fide passengers with minimal delay, and arrival volumes are closely monitored to ensure that staff are deployed to maintain this.

Immigration and Nationality Department

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Immigration and Nationality Department to return the passport of the constituent of the hon. Member for Basingstoke Mr. Ahmed Rizwe (ref. R350848).

Des Browne: I wrote to the hon. Member about Mr. Rizwe's case on 20 January.

Magistrate's Court (Dyfed Powys)

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warrants were issued by Dyfed Powys Magistrates' Court for the arrest of people normally resident in the Greater London area in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003; and how many were served in each year.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Motoring Offences

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions occurred in each of the last three years of drivers who were incapacitated as a consequence of (a) alcohol, (b) illegal drugs and (c) legal pharmaceuticals; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Available information on the number of proceedings and convictions for offences of driving while impaired by drink or drugs or while above the specified limit for alcohol in England and Wales is given in the following table. The data cannot separately identify whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
	
		Proceedings at magistrates courts and findings of guilt at all courts for offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs(49), England and Wales, 2000 to 2002
		
			 Total England and Wales Proceedings Findings of guilt 
		
		
			 2000 96,160 85,829 
			 2001 95,983 84,748 
			 2002 102,032 90,488 
		
	
	(49) Including the following offences under Road Traffic Act 1988:
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment) [s. 4(1)].
	Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit, [s. 5(1) (a)]
	Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time, he/she was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle, [s. 7 (b)]
	In charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment), [s. 4 (2)]
	In charge of a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit, [s. 5 (1) (b)]
	In charge of a motor vehicle and failing to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time, he/she was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle, [s.7 (b)]
	Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test. [s. 6(4)]
	Excluding offences under Road Traffic Act 1988 sec 3A: Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the public protection function of the probation service to be the subject of contestability under the National Offender Management Service structures.

Paul Goggins: Detailed plans for introducing contestability are being developed. There are currently no plans to apply contestability to the public protection function of the probation service.

National Offender Management Service

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether liaison arrangements with magistrates at a local level will continue to be based on the local criminal justice areas after the introduction of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) places great importance on liaison arrangements with magistrates at local criminal justice area level and at individual courts within criminal justice areas. We are consulting on proposals for improved consultative arrangements between NOMS and sentencers at both magistrates' courts and criminal justice area level.

National Offender Management Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the business risk to the Home Office of the introduction of the National Offender Management Service; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: A risk assessment has been carried out on the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Change Programme. It considered a range of potential risks to the programme and considered the consequences should any such risks occur. The resulting risk register details the actions required to ensure that the consequences of any risk are minimised. These actions are being taken forward by the Directors of NOMS.

National Offender Management Service

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether provisions in the proposed Bill on the management of offenders which strengthen the powers of probation boards will be consistent with the latest National Offender Management Service structure blueprint.

Paul Goggins: As I made clear in the statement I made on 20 July 2004, we are developing the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) within the framework of the existing probation board structure. The measures in the Bill will make small and sensible adjustments to existing legislation. These include setting out the aims of NOMS and establishing sentence planning and review as a core offender management function and a duty of local probation boards.
	Although we have started to explore what longer term organisational change might be needed to deliver NOMS in its final state, detailed feasibility work and further consultation will be needed before decisions are made. Creating a 'central spine' of accountability from offender managers to the National Offender Manager is crucial to implementing the Carter reforms and we are now looking at organisational models which will deliver this. We are discussing with the Probation Boards Association the changes to the role of Boards which it is likely will be involved, and will continue to be open in planning the "end state" for NOMS.

National Offender Management Service

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the model for contestability for the National Offender Management Service will allow (a) the Probation Service, (b) the Prison Service and (c) the voluntary sector to work in (i) competition and (ii) co-operation with each other; and how this model will influence the aim of breaking down the separation of the services.

Paul Goggins: Contestability within the National Offender Management Service includes both competition and co-operation between sectors. We are keen to encourage all sectors to compete for the delivery of the full range of services for offenders and to increase the number of private companies and voluntary and community bodies involved. The case for co-operation between sectors, for instance through a consortium rests on value for money. When the contestability model is in full operation, we expect to see probation services and prisons within a given region combining to procure services in a way that will improve value for money, drive up quality and achieve consistency of service for offenders in custody and the community.

Operation Stealth

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms seized by Nottinghamshire Constabulary during "Operation Stealth" were real firearms subject to Section 5 (1)(aba) of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended); how many were imitation firearms capable of being readily converted to fire live ammunition as set out in the provisions of Section 1 (1)(a) of the Firearms Act 1982; how many were gas cartridge firearms subject to Section 5 (1)(af) of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended); how many were imitation firearms; and how many were air weapons.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the form requested. However, I understand from the Nottinghamshire police that since August 2002 a total of 317 guns have been seized during "Operation Stealth", as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Section 1 handguns 70 
			 Converted handgun 43 
			 Shotgun 23 
			 Rifles/machine guns 17 
			 BB gun 27 
			 Blank firing 40 
			 Air weapon 41 
			 Gas powered 12 
			 Stun gun 19 
			 Imitation 25

Passports

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) financial and (b) other assistance with passport applications will be given to people living in remote and peripheral areas when the right to apply by post is removed.

Des Browne: I announced on 21 December 2004 that from late 2006 adults applying for their first passport would need to attend an interview as part of the process of confirming their identity. The initial application may still be made by post and other existing channels, and the right to apply by post will remain for all other passport application types.
	The United Kingdom Passport Service is working on detailed proposals for implementing this requirement, including establishing a network of new offices where the interview will be held. While these proposals are not yet finalised, the aim, using a 70–80 office model, would be that nearly 97 per cent. of applicants would have an interview office within 20 miles of their home, 2.4 per cent. would be in a 20–40 mile radius with only 0.7 per cent. having to travel further than 40 miles. Wherever possible, applicants will be given the flexibility to choose when and where they are interviewed within the network, and we will, as far as practicable, manage office opening hours to suit applicant demand. For those in more remote areas of the UK, we are considering the practicality of mobile facilities or peripatetic staff. We have no plans at present to provide financial assistance.

Passports

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the documentation requirements for passport applications have been changed to long birth certificates.

Des Browne: All first time applications for those born on or after 1 January 1983 must be supported by a full birth certificate showing details of parentage.
	The previous practice of accepting a short birth certificate as proof of nationality for people born in the United Kingdom on or after 1 January 1983 was vulnerable to false claims of nationality. This was primarily because the short forms of birth certificate do not show details of parentage.
	A person born in the UK could enter fictitious details about his/her parents on the passport application form, or a person here unlawfully could attempt to obtain a British passport for a child born here by making a false statement about his/her self. Under the previous requirements these types of false representation were very unlikely to be detected, but could be prevented by the requirement for a full birth certificate to be submitted with the passport application.

Passports

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the completion of questions relating to bank account details on application forms returned in relation to the UK Passport Service's Personal Identification Project affects the application for a passport.

Des Browne: Bank account details have been collected as part of the pilot scheme identification matrix used to support the processing of passport applications within the Personal Identification Project. Following analysis of the pilot scheme outcomes and feedback, the decision has been made not to request this customer information when the system is deployed nationally in Q3 2005.

Passports

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the credit reference company Equifax retains the information it receives from passport applicants for use on its databases.

Des Browne: Equifax are currently contracted to the UK Passport Service (UKPS) to provide database services to support the UKPS Personal Identification Project (PIP). During the life of this contract, Equifax retains the data on behalf of the UKPS, but it is contractually excluded from any use, including commercial use, of this information beyond the scope of the UKPS Personal Identity Project.

Passports

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the credit reference company Equifax is allowed to use for commercial gain the information it receives from passport application forms.

Des Browne: Equifax are currently contracted to the UK Passport Agency (UKPA) to provide database services to support the UKPA Personal Identification Project (PIP). Equifax are contractually excluded from using data, for any reason outside the scope of PIP, gathered from passport application forms.
	This data, whilst of a personal nature, does not differ from that included in a normal credit application, but does include checks against data from other Government Departments.

Passports

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the locations in Scotland where the UK Passport Service plans to set up passport offices to meet the new requirements on passport issue announced on 21 December 2004.

Des Browne: holding answer 17 January 2005
	I announced on 21 December 2004 that from late 2006 adults applying for their first passport would need to attend an interview as part of the process of confirming their identity. Applications will continue to be sent in by post and other existing channels and will be processed initially in the present regional passport offices. First time adult applicants will then be invited to make an appointment for an interview. The UK Passport Service (UKPS) is seeking additional premises where interviews may be held. These will generally be small offices dedicated only to carrying out interviews and will not be passport offices offering the full range of UKPS services.
	While UKPS proposals are not finalised, the aim, using 70 to 80 offices, is that nearly 97 per cent. of applicants would have an interview office within 20 miles of their home, 2.4 per cent. would be in a 20–40 mile radius with only 0.7 per cent. having to travel further than 40 miles. In order to take account of public transport links, the UKPS will be consulting transport planning authorities, including the relevant officials in the Scottish Executive, on possible locations for offices. Initial planning on the 70 to 80 office model has indicated a need, subject to consultation, for 11 new offices in Scotland: three in the borders, two in the central area (in addition to the regional passport office in Glasgow) and six distributed on the east and west coasts. For those in more remote areas, we are considering the practicality of mobile facilities or peripatetic staff.

Police

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stop and account procedures were undertaken by the police on average in a day in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by (a) police force area and (b) crime reduction partnership.

Hazel Blears: There is no data currently held centrally on stop and account procedures. The requirement to record all stops in line with recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry will become effective on 1 April 2005.

Police

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of members of the police force in Stoke-on-Trent are (a) community support officers, (b) reserve officers and (c) part-time officers.

Hazel Blears: Community support officers (CSOs) are not police officers, but police staff for whom the chief officer of the force may designate certain limited powers. The police service in England and Wales does not have a category of reserve police officers. Information on police numbers is not available in a way that makes it possible to identify the number of part-time police officers in the Stoke-on-Trent basic command unit (BCU).
	The number of police officers (full-time equivalent) in the Stoke-on-Trent BCU on 31 March 2004 was 587. On 31 March 2004 there were 109 special constables in the Stoke-on-Trent BCU and at the end of September 2004 there were six CSOs in the Stoke-on-Trent BCU. I understand that the chief constable is using some of the funding made available by the Home Office in 2004–05 to increase the number of CSOs in Stoke to 18.

Police

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) community support officers and (b) police officers have been recruited in each of the last 24 months, broken down by (i) police force and (ii) police authority.

Hazel Blears: Information on police officer and community support officer (CSO) joiners is published annually. For 2002–03 it can be found at Table 5 (police officers) and Table 8 (CSOs) in Home Office Statistical Bulletin No.11/03 "Police Service Strength, England and Wales, 31 March 2003", published on 1 October 2003. For 2003–04 the same information can be found at Table 5 (police officers) and Table 8 (CSOs) of Home Office Statistical Bulletin No.13/04 "Police Service Strength, England and Wales, 31 March 2004", published on 27 September 2004. Copies are in the Library.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police recruits have completed basic police training in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The number of police recruits who have completed Stage 2 of Foundation Training in Centrex regional training centres in each financial year since 1997–98 are given in the table.
	The number of police recruits who have completed Foundation Training in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) are also given in the table. (The MPS were unable to provide accurate figures for 1997–98.)
	
		
			  Centrex MPS 
		
		
			 1997–98 4,885 — 
			 1998–1999 3,750 1,113 
			 1999–2000 3,090 1,192 
			 2000–01 5,861 862 
			 2001–02 7,578 1,690 
			 2002–03 7,977 2,374 
			 2003–04 8,701 2,953

Policing (Lewisham)

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) community support officers and (b) estate wardens have been deployed in the Lewisham, Deptford constituency, broken down by year of appointment.

Hazel Blears: The Lewisham, Deptford parliamentary constituency is part of the Lewisham borough operational command unit (OCU). The information available is for the OCU, in which 36 community support officers have been deployed. The Commissioner informs me that compiling a breakdown by year of appointment would incur disproportionate cost. community support officers were first deployed in Lewisham on 31 March 2003.
	The ministerial responsibility for wardens lies with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, but I understand that 30 wardens have been deployed in the borough of Lewisham.

Prison Suicides

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many of the prisoners who committed suicide in 2004 were housed in safe cells;.
	(2)  how many safe cells were installed in 2004; and how many he plans to install in 2005.

Paul Goggins: During 2004 there was one apparently self-inflicted death of a prisoner in a safer cell.
	To confirm the number of safer cells installed during 2004 would require disproportionate cost. However, there are to date approximately 3,400 safer cells (including 389 at Bronzefield prison, which opened in June 2004) and there will be an additional 1,900 by April 2006.
	.

Prison Suicides

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners who committed suicide in 2004 were (a) men and (b) women; how many of each sex were aged under 21; and how many of each sex were on remand without conviction;
	(2)  how many prisoners committed suicide in 1998.

Paul Goggins: The information requested about prisoner self-inflicted deaths in 2004 is shown in the following table.
	
		Self-inflicted deaths 2004
		
			 Sex Total Under 21 Remand 
		
		
			 Male 82 5 30 
			 Female 13 0 2 
			 Total 95 5 32 
		
	
	Reducing the number of prisoner self-inflicted deaths remains a priority for myself and the Prison Service.

Prison Suicides

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the number of suicides in prison; and whether his policy includes a target for the number of suicides each year which should not be exceeded.

Paul Goggins: On 31 March 2004, I announced the outline suicide prevention strategy that would be developed over the coming year. It can be summarised as, "Reducing distress and promoting the well-being of all who live and work in prisons". This follows extensive consultations including those with the Howard League, Prison Reform Trust, Inquest, the Youth Justice Board, Prisons and Probations Ombudsman, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Samaritans and the Department of Health.
	This strategy builds on the three-year safer custody strategy that ran from April 2001 and has a close relationship with issues of resettlement, detoxification, health, purposeful activity, as well as staff attitudes, leadership and training. Key achievements were the setting up of suicide prevention co-ordinators or equivalents in all prisons across the estate, an investment of over £21 million at six 'safer local' pilot sites and the development of a safer prison design, including "safer cells".
	Clearly, all self-inflicted deaths in prison are deeply regrettable. To accompany the three-year safer custody strategy, a target was set for reducing the rate of self- inflicted deaths per 100,000 prisoners from the 1999–2000 figure of 141 to 112.8 by 2004–05. A rate of about 130 deaths per 100,000 is projected for 2004–05. The prisoner targets are being reconsidered in the light of experience.

Prison Suicides

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners committed suicide in 2004 broken down by prison; and how many of those were (a) remand prisoners, (b) convicted but not sentenced, (c) aged under 16, (d) aged 16 or 17 and (e) aged between 18 and 21.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	Prisons not shown on the list (88 of the 136 establishments) did not have any self-inflicted deaths during 2004.
	
		
			   Number of prisoners who apparently took their own lives who were: 
			 Establishment Total number of apparent self-inflicted deaths Convicted unsentenced Remand Sentenced Aged under 16 Aged 16 and 17 Aged 18,19 and 20 
		
		
			 Acklington 2 — — 2 — — — 
			 Bedford 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Belmarsh 1 — 1 — — — — 
			 Birmingham 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Blakenhurst 3 — 2 1 — — — 
			 Bristol 1 1 — — — — — 
			 Brixton 2 2 — — — — — 
			 Brockhill 2 — 1 1 — — 1 
			 Buckley Hall 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Bullingdon 2 1 1 — — — — 
			 Canterbury 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Dartmoor 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Durham 3 — 1 2 — — — 
			 Edmunds Hill 2 — 1 1
			 Elmley 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Exeter 2 — 2 — — — — 
			 Frankland 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Gloucester 3 2 1 — — — — 
			 High Down 1 1 — — — — — 
			 Holloway 2 2 — — — — — 
			 Holme House 1 — 1 — — — 1 
			 Hull 1 — 1 — — — — 
			 Kingston 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Lancaster Farms 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Leeds 2 — 1 1 — — — 
			 Leicester 3 — 3 — — — — 
			 Lewes 2 — 2 — — — — 
			 Lincoln 2 — — 2 — — — 
			 Liverpool 3 — 3 — — — — 
			 Long Lartin 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Low Newton 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Manchester 6 1 1 4 — — — 
			 New Hall 3 1  2 — — — 
			 Norwich 3 1 1 1 — — 1 
			 Nottingham 3 1 2 — — — — 
			 Pentonville 3 1 1 1 — — — 
			 Portland 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Preston 2 1 — 1 — — — 
			 Ranby 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Reading 1 — 1 — — — 1 
			 Rochester 1 — — 1 — — 1 
			 Send 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Shrewsbury 5 — 3 2 — — — 
			 Stafford 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Swansea 1 — 1 — — — — 
			 Verne, The 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Wakefield 3 — — 3 — — — 
			 Wandsworth 1 1 — — — — — 
			 Woodhill 3 1 1 1 — — — 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 3 1 — 2 — — — 
			 Wymott 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Total 95 18 32 45 0 0 5 
		
	
	On 31 March 2004, I announced the outline suicide prevention strategy that would be developed over the coming year. It can be summarised as, "Reducing distress and promoting the well-being of all who live and work in prisons". It has a close relationship with issues of resettlement, detoxification, health, purposeful activity and staff training.
	The strategy recognises that prisoners are at particular risk of harming themselves in their early period in custody, when they are coping with issues of fear of imprisonment, detoxification or the impact of arrest on their family. Equally such risk is heightened when a prisoner's custodial status changes, for example when convicted or sentenced.
	Remand prisoners form a large proportion of the prisoners in early custody and are therefore subject to a number of assessments and policies designed to enhance their safety. Any new prisoner or one whose status has changed has an interview with a reception healthcare screener, who looks for signs that a prisoner may self-harm. Induction sessions for new prisoners emphasise the support that is available, from staff, health care and other specialists, and from prisoner peer supporters such as insiders or Samaritans-trained listeners. The importance of maintaining contact with family and employers, and providing support to prisoners in respect of maintaining their housing, is further emphasised through the Custody to Work programme.
	The Prison Service and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) are working closely together to prevent the suicides of young people held in their care. The YJB funds a dedicated juvenile outreach team to specifically assist juvenile establishments further develop and maintain their local suicide and self-harm prevention strategies. As part of the national Prison Service suicide prevention strategy, a separate (but linked) strategy is being developed for juveniles.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of self-harm have taken place in prisons in London in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of self-harm incidents recorded per year 
			 Establishment 2001 2002 2003(50) 2004(51) 
		
		
			 Belmarsh 110 74 75 73 
			 Brixton 74 128 119 55 
			 Bronzefield(52) n/a n/a n/a 102 
			 Holloway 604 908 959 725 
			 Pentonville 159 153 186 74 
			 Wandsworth 94 81 54 161 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 112 112 190 98 
			 Feltham 53 48 104 81 
			 Total 1,206 1,504 1,687 1,369 
		
	
	(50) In December 2002 new procedures for reporting self-injury were introduced in prisons in England and Wales. The evidence suggests that much of the increase in reported self-harm from 2003 may result from this rather than reflect an actual increase in incidence of self-harm
	(51) 1 January—30 September only
	(52) Bronzefield opened in June 2004
	A number of intervention strategies have been introduced into establishments for people who self-harm. These include counselling, support groups, and specialised psychological interventions. A network of establishments has been set up to develop interventions, facilitate evaluation and share good practice. Guidance to staff on managing people who self-harm has been circulated to establishments.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes from prisons in England and Wales there have been in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The following table details prison escapes in the last three years, and so far this current financial year. Prison Service key performance indicators identify an escape as one where (i) the prisoner is not recaptured within 15 minutes or (ii) is recaptured within 15 minutes but has committed an offence other than escape before recapture.
	
		Number of escapes
		
			  Number of escapes from prisons 
		
		
			 2001–02 15 
			 2002–03 5 
			 2003–04 10 
			 2004–05(53) 10 
		
	
	(53) Figure as on 17 January 2005

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners have been detained beyond their sentence expiry date in each prison in each of the last 10 years in England and Wales.

Des Browne: Information on the number of people who have been detained beyond their sentence expiry date is not available.
	Work is ongoing to improve the quality of the data held on those people detained under Immigration Act powers in prison establishments.

Psilocin

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what research his Department has conducted into psilocin use;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the link between psilocin use and crime.

Caroline Flint: The Home Office has not conducted research into psilocin use.
	Hallucinogenic mushrooms are known to be harmful to those with a mental illness or with an underlying mental health problem and can precipitate psychosis. Users are also vulnerable to self harm while under the influence of these mushrooms and those using them may experience negative flashbacks.
	There is no clear evidence of a link between psilocin use and acquisitive or other crime.

Security Industry

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) warned, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted for failure to comply with the Security Industry Authority requirements for the licensing of door staff; and what plans he has to introduce further penalties for individuals and organisations for failure to comply with those requirements.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 December 2004
	Prosecution of organisations or individuals who have failed to comply with the door supervisor requirements of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 is the responsibility of individual police forces and this information is not held centrally. There are no plans to introduce further penalties for individuals or organisations at this moment.

Sentencing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when sentencing statistics for 2003 will be published.

Paul Goggins: Current plans are to publish a Home Office Statistical Bulletin on Sentencing Statistics for 2003 next month. This will include sentencing trends from 1993.
	However, detailed statistics on sentencing for 2003 were included only in the four Supplementary Volumes of Criminal Statistics published on the Home Office website on 11 November 2004. Provisional sentencing data were also released (covering the first quarter of 2004 for the Crown Court and the last quarter of 2003 for magistrates courts) on the website on 15 November in a Quarterly Brief "Sentencing Statistics, England and Wales".

Sentencing

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average per annum cost of detaining a prisoner in England and Wales was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 January 2004
	The latest figure available is for the financial year 2003–04. For that year, the average cost of detaining a prisoner in England and Wales was £25,687. This figure incorporates both public and private sector prisons.

Sex Abuse (Historical Cases)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had over the last two years regarding anonymity for defendants in historical sex abuse cases; and what the outcome of those discussions was.

Paul Goggins: The Home Secretary and other Ministers considered and discussed anonymity for defendants in sex offence cases in the context of amendments tabled during the passage of the Sexual Offences Bill.

Sex Abuse (Historical Cases)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many witnesses in historic child abuse cases have been prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, on the basis of deliberate fabrication, since 1995.

Paul Goggins: It is not possible from the information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings database to identify witnesses in historic child abuse cases who have been prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, as the circumstances of an offence are not collected centrally.

Sex Abuse (Historical Cases)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will extend the statutory reporting restrictions which preserve the anonymity of victims of historical sex abuse to persons accused of those offences.

Paul Goggins: The Government have carefully considered whether defendants in sex offence cases should be entitled to anonymity through reporting restrictions but does not believe that there is a case for a change in the law. The Government consider that strengthened guidance issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Press Complaints Commission is the right approach.

Sex Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prisoners are imprisoned for committing a sex offence.

Paul Goggins: On 30 November 2004 there were 657 persons held on remand and 5,975 under immediate custodial sentence for sexual offences in prison establishments in England and Wales, as recorded on the Prison Service central IT system. These figures constitute 5 per cent. of the total remand population and 10 per cent. of the total population under immediate custodial sentence.

Sex Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce an alternative to the Sex Offenders Treatment Programme which requires no admission of guilt on the part of the prisoner.

Paul Goggins: There are no plans to introduce an alternative sex offender treatment programme for offenders who do not admit their offences. An alternative programme intended to encourage offenders out of denial was trialled but was not successful as it did not reduce the number of those in denial or address their particular needs. It may also have an adverse impact on the effectiveness of existing programmes.

Sex Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how risk assessment of convicted sex offenders is carried out.

Paul Goggins: Risk assessment of those who are convicted of sexual offences is carried out before sentence and regularly throughout their period of supervision, both in custody and in the community.
	The following risk assessment tools have been devised in order to facilitate these assessments:
	The Risk Matrix 2000 predicts reconviction rates for both two and 20-year periods, based on actuarial factors empirically associated with risk of sexual offending.
	The Offender Assessment System (OASys) is a risk assessment document, used jointly by the Probation Service and the Prison Service, which incorporates static and dynamic risk factors in order to inform accurate and current assessment.
	Assessments measuring dynamic risk known to be associated with sexual reconviction, for example, sexual interests, self-management, distorted attitudes, are also routinely used.

Sex Offenders

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department plans to make available to sex offenders to find (a) accommodation and (b) employment after their release from prison.

Paul Goggins: The issue of appropriate accommodation is addressed prior to an offender's release as part of his licence conditions; this could include consideration for approved premises. For offenders who potentially pose a risk of harm to the public, this is managed under the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), which include local housing authorities and registered social landlords as part of the duty to co-operate.
	Jobcentres are also subject to the duty to co-operate provisions under MAPPA and securing employment is a factor contained within an offender's individual Supervision Plan. Finding employment is managed by local arrangement and suitability of any such employment is evaluated. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 provides for disqualification orders, which make it a criminal offence for convicted sex offenders to seek employment that would provide unsupervised access to children.

Sex Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the impact of overcrowding on the number of prisoners completing the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Paul Goggins: The main risk created by overcrowding is that prisoners do not complete offending behaviour programmes to which they have been assigned because they are transferred to another establishment before the programme is completed. It is well understood in the Prison Service that prisoners who have started an offending behaviour programme should not be moved before the programme is completed.
	The Prison Service monitors the delivery of all offending behaviour programmes for the proportion of prisoners who do not complete. The number of prisoners who start but do not complete the Sex Offender Treatment Programme is small and reasons include illness, breach of group rules and the offender voluntarily withdrawing. We believe that the number who do not complete because of overcrowding is negligible.

Tsunami

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's policy is on enabling children who have been orphaned as a result of the tsunami disaster from Sri Lanka and India to be allowed to join close relatives who now live in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The immigration rules already contain provision allowing relatives who are settled in the United Kingdom to sponsor the entry of a child where there are serious and compelling considerations and suitable arrangements have been made for the child's care. In the case of children affected by the tsunami, such care will have to take account of the special needs of these children.
	Recently, some countries affected by the tsunami have imposed restrictions upon the travel and adoption of children from the disaster areas, in part as a result of recent accounts of traffickers seeking to exploit vulnerable children there. Our decisions must take account of these restrictions and in view of the dangers presented by traffickers, our investigation of the full circumstances of individual cases will be as thorough as ever. However, my hon. Friend may be assured that a sympathetic approach will be taken in such cases.

UN Convention on Migrant Workers

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the changes to UK law which would be required for ratification of the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families.

Des Browne: Ratifying the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families would require a number of changes to UK legislation. The Convention would give migrants the same access to public funds and services as British citizens, regardless of their length of stay in the UK. Changes would be required to enable these migrant workers to access benefits, housing, education and social services.
	Overseas nationals who are granted settlement in the UK are entitled to claim income-related benefits and non-contributory benefits and to access social housing in the same way as a British citizen. Individuals coming to the UK for employment have to support themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds. However, state school education and treatment under the NHS do not qualify as public funds under the Immigration Rules. So migrant workers without settlement do have access to state education services and, as long as they remain in employment, NHS services. We believe that to extend this access to all benefits before these workers are settled in the UK would act as an unnecessary "pull factor" and undermine immigration controls.
	We have no plans to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. The rights of migrant workers are already protected in UK law, including under the Human Rights Act 1998 and we believe we have struck the right balance between the need for immigration control and the protection of the interests and rights of migrant workers.

Violent Incidents (Prisons)

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent incidents were reported in each institution within the secure estate in the most recent year for which records are available.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 17 January 2005
	There are a range of incidents that might be classified as violent. HM Prison Service defines violence as
	"any incident in which a person is, abused, threatened, or assaulted. This includes an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being or health. The resulting harm may be physical, emotional or psychological".
	The tables which include centrally collected data about the most serious incidents in prisons, remand centres, juvenile and young offender institutions and secure training units, during the financial year 2003–04, have been placed in the Library. No central records are kept of violent incidents in immigration removal centres or local authority secure children's homes.

Wrongful Conviction (Compensation)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the criteria are for the award of (a) compensation and (b) ex gratia payments in cases of wrongful conviction and imprisonment; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The criteria for the statutory scheme for compensation for wrongful conviction are set out within the provisions of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The criteria for the ex gratia scheme are set out in the then Home Secretary's statement to the House of Commons on 29 November 1985, Official Report, columns 691–92.

Xenotransplantation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2004, Official Report, column 650W, on xenotransplantation, what steps he took to ascertain that all of the animals were cynomolgous macaques; and what time period the information relates to.

Caroline Flint: The information was drawn from material prepared by the Home Office Chief Inspector during his review of compliance with the licence authorities granted to Imutran Ltd. staff for their xenotransplantation research. It relates to studies carried out in each of the years 1995 to 1999.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) number of actions, (b) number of settlements, (c) number of court cases and (d) the costs of each settlement.

David Miliband: Information is not held centrally in the form requested.
	The information available on the costs of litigation (including inquiries) is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Cases(54) Hours Cost (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 18 237 27,909 
			 1998–99 36 208 42,362 
			 1999–2000 117 1,228 148,935 
			 2000–01 145 479 39,331 
			 2001–02 132 1,110 139,997 
			 2002–03 135 1,728 175,157 
			 2003–04 111 2,305 644,399 
		
	
	(54) Number of cases handled by Treasury Solicitor in year including cases carried forward from previous year.
	Source:
	Treasury Solicitor
	Disbursements are the costs caused by representation by barristers and outside solicitors. Disbursements were increased in 2003–04 due to the Hutton Inquiry.
	The number of cases and costs increased in 1999–2000 due to the BSE Inquiry and legal challenge to the House of Lords Bill.

Departmental Website

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the searchable database of all Government (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) independent regulators will be available on his Department's website.

David Miliband: 'Public Bodies 2004' will be published for the first time as a searchable database. We anticipate that the new searchable database containing information about non-departmental public bodies will be launched in the first quarter of this year, and I will announce its availability to the House.
	The issue of identifying which public bodies sponsored by central Government Departments should be classified as independent regulators has been included in the review of the variety and complexity of public bodies being carried out at present in response to a recommendation of the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC). The Government indicated this in their response to the Better Regulation Task Force report "Independent Regulators" which my predecessor announced in a written ministerial statement on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 61WS. This indicated that such bodies would not be identified separately when the database is first launched with 2004 data. That remains the case. The report of the review for PASC is due to be published soon and will comment further on this point.

Ministerial Residences

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) capital and (b) notional open market rental value is of each official residence available to Ministers.

David Miliband: Admiralty House contains residential accommodation for three Ministers. No Cabinet Office Ministers are currently accommodated in official residencies.
	The capital value of the three flats, if extracted from the overall capital value of Admiralty House, is £7 million. The term "Open Market Rental Value" is no longer recognised by the Appraisal and Valuation Standards but is now defined as "Market Rent". The notional market rent for all the three flats is £21,900-£25,500 per calendar month (each flat is estimated to be in the region of £7,300-£8,500 per calendar month).

Parking Spaces

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many car parking spaces are provided for those (a) working in and (b) visiting his Department.

David Miliband: For Cabinet Office staff based in central London, there are 52 designated parking spaces. These are mainly for staff who work unsocial hours; staff/visitors who are disabled, ministerial and operational vehicles.
	The Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS) College (formerly known as the Civil Service College) has 322 designated parking spaces at its residential training centre in Sunningdale. These are mainly for use by CMPS College staff and those of its Public Private Partnership/Public Finance Initiative partner, delegates attending CMPS College courses, visitors and any of those who are disabled. The CMPS College has an additional seven designated parking spaces at its non-residential training centre in London. These are mainly for use by CMPS College staff, delegates attending CMPS College courses, visitors and any of those who are disabled.
	The Emergency Planning College (EPC) has 105 designated parking spaces at its residential training centre in Easingwold. These are mainly for use by EPC staff and contractors, delegates attending courses, visitors and any of those who are disabled.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Antisocial Response Courts

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what training is made available to magistrates on dealing with antisocial behaviour.

Christopher Leslie: Statutory responsibility for the training of magistrates currently rests with the 42 independent Magistrates' Courts' Committees (MCCs). The Judicial Studies Board (JSB) has provided training materials to MCCs on antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs), with are available on the JSB website.
	In February 2004, the JSB advised MCCs that it expected every magistrate to receive a minimum of two hours face to face training on ASBOs by the end of this financial year.
	The Home Office issued detailed guidance on ASBOs to Magistrates' Courts in November 2002. Preliminary Home Office guidance on the new Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 was issued to all magistrates courts in January 2004.

Asylum Process

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Home Affairs on delivering an efficient asylum process; and when each meeting to discuss such matters took place.

Christopher Leslie: The Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Home Affairs both attend the regular Asylum Stocktake chaired by the Prime Minister.

Claims Direct

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2004, Official Report, column 29W, on Claims Direct, if he will publish the minutes of the meeting between representatives of Claims Direct and officials of his Department in 2002 to discuss matters relating to the operation of the personal injury market.

Christopher Leslie: It would be inappropriate for me to disclose the minutes of the meeting that took place on 13 May 2002 between officials and Claims Direct without consulting with third parties. I shall write to the hon. Member for Blaby with a decision once those parties have been consulted.

Community Legal Service

Ross Cranston: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 770W, on the Community Legal Service, what the percentage was in each of the last 10 years.

Christopher Leslie: In the time available it was not possible to obtain an estimate for the whole of the UK legal services market for year 1994–95. However, for each of the nine remaining years, the estimated proportion of Community Legal Services 1 expenditure as a percentage of the UK legal services market was as follows:
	1 The Community Legal Service was created in April 2000. The percentage prior to this in the table covers legal aid for civil matters formally administered by the Legal Aid Board.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1995–96 8.3 
			 1996–97 7.6 
			 1997–98 7.0 
			 1998–99 7.0 
			 1999–2000 5.5 
			 2000–01 5.2 
			 2001–02 4.3 
			 2002–03 4.5 
			 2003–04 4.7

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 9 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Catherine Lim.

Christopher Leslie: The Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor wrote to my right hon. Friend on 7 December 2004 in response to his letter of 9 November. Unfortunately, due to an administrative error, the letter was not sent. Officials contacted my right hon. Friend's office on 18 January and a copy of the letter of 7 December has now been sent.

Crack Houses

Liam Byrne: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many crack house closures there have been since the introduction of the orders allowing such closures, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement on (a) the ease with which such orders can be served in the courts and (b) the most common cause of delays in seeking such orders in the courts.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	Closure orders by Government Office region for the period 20 January to end September 2004 are as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 East of England 5 
			 South East 23 
			 South West 24 
			 East Midlands 10 
			 West Midlands 3 
			 North West 13 
			 North East 7 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4 
			 Wales 5 
			 London 64 
			 Total 158 
		
	
	There is no official data relating to the most common cause of delays in seeking such court orders in the courts. Once a notice of closure has been served upon a premises the court hearing has to be heard within 48 hours. There are no reports of this legal requirement not being met. Feedback from police and others involved in closures made so far are very positive about the process.

Criminal Offences

Mark Oaten: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department in the (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 session, broken down by Act.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) 2002–03 Session
	Courts Act 2003
	s 57—assaulting and obstructing court security officers.
	s 95—Inserts a new section (1A) into the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to extend the offences in that section to make it an offence for a person charged to fail to provide means information when there has been an official request to do so.
	s 96—inserting new s 24(2A) and (2B) in the Criminal Justice Act 1991—failure to provide information/providing false information relating to fines.
	Schedule 3, inserting a new s 8D in the Magistrates Courts Act 1980—reporting pre-trial hearings.
	Schedule 5 paragraph 48—fines: failure to provide information/providing false information.
	Schedule 5, paragraph 49—meddling with a vehicle clamp.
	Schedule 6, paragraph 2—failure to provide information/providing false information in relation to statement of means for work order.
	(b) 2003–04 Session
	Gender Recognition Act 2004
	s 22—prohibition on disclosure of information
	European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Act 2004
	s 6—personation: arrestable offence (extension of an existing offence).

External Suppliers

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many tenders were let by his Department to external suppliers in financial year 2003–04; and what the value was.

Christopher Leslie: During 2003–04 my Departments central procurement and estates function let 26 new contracts, for national/regional provision, and with an individual value in excess of £100,000. The estimated total value of these contracts is around £17 million.
	The total number of contracts let by my Department, including orders placed against existing contracts, contracts placed locally, and contracts below £100,000 is not held centrally and could only be established at disproportionate cost.

Freedom of Information

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his Department in the last three years.

Christopher Leslie: The Freedom of Information Act does not make specific categories of information available, but operates on the presumption that all information held by public authorities should be available, subject to the 24 exemptions of the Act.
	Whether or not information is exempt under the Act requires the exercise of judgment in each case. The majority of the exemptions also require that the public interest in releasing the information should be weighed against the public interest in withholding it. If the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in withholding it the information must be disclosed. The assessment of the public interest has to be made in all the circumstances of the case, on a case-by-case basis as far as each request is concerned.

Freedom of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will provide a list of the contact points for each Government Department for all applications for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Christopher Leslie: The following is a list of Freedom Of Information contacts for each of the Government Departments.
	Cabinet Office
	Openness Team
	Cabinet Office
	Room 4.45
	Admiralty Arch
	The Mall
	London SW1A 2WH
	Telephone: 020 7270 1234
	Email: openess.team@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
	Department for Constitutional Affairs
	Selborne House
	54 Victoria Street
	London SW1E 6QW
	Telephone: 020 7189 2438
	Email: dca.foi@dca.gsi.gov.uk
	general.queries@dca.gsi.gov.uk
	Scotland Office
	Ministerial Offices
	Parliamentary and Constitutional Division
	Dover House
	Whitehall London
	SW1A 2AU
	Telephone: 020 7270 6754
	Facsimile: 020 7270 681
	Email: scottish.secretary@scotlan.gov.uk
	Wales Office
	The Wales Office
	Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
	Gwydyr House,
	Whitehall,
	London SW1A 2ER
	Email: wales.office@walesoffice.gsi.gov.uk
	Telephone: 020 7270 0540
	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	Head of Information Management Projects
	Information Management Unit
	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	2–4 Cockspur Street
	London SW1Y5DH
	Email: FOI@culture.gsi.gov.uk
	Telephone: 020–7211 2024
	Facsimile:020 7211 2220
	Ministry of Defence
	Freedom of information unit
	Room 831, St Giles Court,
	1/13 St Giles High Street,
	London WC2H 8LD
	Email: infoaccess-pmad@defence.mod.uk
	Department of Work and Pensions
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Room 112
	The Adelphi
	1–11 John Adam Street
	London
	WC2N 6HT
	Telephone: 020 7712 2171
	Email: peo@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
	26 Whitehall
	London
	SW1A 2WH
	Telephone: 020 7944 4400
	Email: enquiryodpm.gsi.gov.uk
	Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
	Freedom of Information Officer
	2 Cartton Gardens
	London SW1Y 5AA
	Telephone: 020 7210 1025
	Facsimile: 020 7210 1075
	Email: leader@commonsleader.X.gsi.gov.uk
	Privy Council Office
	Freedom of Information Officer
	Privy Council Office
	2 Carlton Gardens
	London SW1Y 5AA
	Telephone: 020 7210 3000
	E-mail: foi@pco.x.gsi.gov.uk
	Department for Education and Skills
	Public Enquiry Unit
	Sanctuary Buildings
	Great Smith Street
	London SW1P 3BT
	Telephone: 0870 000 2288
	Textphone: 01928 794274
	Facsimile: 01928 79 4248
	Email: info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Information Resource Centre
	Lower Ground Floor
	Ergon House
	17 Smith Square
	London SW1P 3JR
	Telephone: 020 7238 6575
	Email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Freedom of Information/Data Protection Team
	Information Management Department
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Old Admiralty Building, Whitehall
	London SW1A 2PA
	Telephone: 020 7008 0123
	Email: dp-foi.imd@fco.gov.uk
	Department of Health
	Customer Service Centre
	Richmond House
	79, Whitehall
	London SW1A 2NL
	Telephone: 020 7210 4850
	Minicom: 020 72105025
	Email: dhemail@dh.gsi.gov.uk
	Home Office
	50 Queen Anne's Gate
	London SW1H 9AT
	Telephone: 0870 000 1585
	Facsimile: 020 7273 2065
	Textphone: (0900–1700) 020–7273 3476
	Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
	Northern Ireland Office
	Information Services
	Castle Buildings
	Belfast
	Northern Ireland
	BT4 3TT
	Telephone: 028 9052 0700
	Textphone: 028 9052 7668
	Email: http//www.nio.gov.uk/index/foi.htm
	Department of Trade and Industry
	Room LG139
	1 Victoria Street
	London SW1H OET
	Telephone: 020 7215 5000
	Facsimile: 020 7215 5713
	Email: dti.enquiries@dti.gsi.gov.uk
	Department for Transport
	Enquiry Service
	Department for Transport
	Great Minster House
	76 Marsham Street
	London SW1P 4DR
	Telephone: 020 7944 8300
	Email: enquiryodpm@odpm.gsi.gov.uk
	HM Treasury
	Freedom of information unit
	1 Horse Guards Road
	London SW1A 2HQ
	Telephone: 020 7270 6408
	Email: public.enquires@hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk
	Department for International Development
	Public Enquiry Point
	Telephone: 0845 300 4100 (local call rate from within the UK)
	Telephone: +44 1355 84 3132 (from outside the UK)
	Facsimile: +44 (0)1355 84 3632
	Email: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk
	1 Palace Street
	London SW1E 5HE
	Telephone: 020 7023 0000
	Facsimile: 020 7023 0019

Legal Aid

John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the legal aid bill for defending drug addicts in court was in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not available. A defendant charged with murder or robbery for example may well be a drug addict but that information is not recorded centrally.

Mental Capacity Bill

Paul Burstow: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the purposes will be of the Government amendments to the Mental Capacity Bill which he has indicated will be tabled in the other House.

David Lammy: At Report Stage of the Mental Capacity Bill the Government undertook to amend the Bill in two key areas. The amendments fulfilling these commitments have now been tabled for debate at Committee in the House of Lords. They provide additional reassurance sought by the House in two key areas. The first amendment relates to decisions about life-sustaining treatment in the context of best interests determinations for people who lack capacity. It provides that when someone is making a decision about whether the provision of life-sustaining treatment is in the best interests of a person lacking capacity, he cannot be motivated by any desire that the person lacking capacity should die—for whatever reason. The amendment tabled in the House of Lords on 18 January will replace the existing clause 4(5). It states:
	"Where the determination relates to life-sustaining treatment he must not, in considering whether the treatment is in the best interests of the person concerned, be motivated by a desire to bring about his death."
	This emphasises that the person assessing best interests must look only at the treatment which might be given, for example its possible benefits and burdens. He must not bring into the process any wish or desire to end the person's life. This should lay to rest any lingering doubt that the Bill will permit euthanasia.
	The second area of amendments concerns advance decisions to refuse treatment. The amendments tabled on 18 January mean that an advance decision will have no application to any treatment which a doctor considers necessary to sustain life unless strict formalities have been complied with. These are that the decision must be in writing, signed and witnessed. In addition, there must be an express statement that the decision stands "even if life is at risk". These amendments build on the already significant safeguards in the Bill surrounding advance decisions, and respond in particular to points raised by the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Ministerial Engagements

John Gummer: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that the Secretary of State has cancelled since 1 January 2004.

Christopher Leslie: There is no full record kept of cancelled engagements in the Lord Chancellor's diary. When engagements have had to be cancelled, wherever possible we try to re-instate them at a later date. All engagements are subject to Ministerial and Parliamentary business.

Sir Mark Thatcher

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will recommend to Her Majesty the Queen the removal of the hereditary baronetcy from Sir Mark Thatcher.

Christopher Leslie: It would require primary legislation to remove a Baronet's title and the Government have no plans to introduce such legislation.

Voting Eligibility

Oliver Heald: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the UK residency requirements are to vote in general elections; and if he will make a statement on the eligibility of (a) citizens from the European Union who are not UK or Irish citizens and (b) non-EU migrants with a right to remain to vote in general elections in the UK.

Christopher Leslie: Residence for the purpose of eligibility to be included in electoral registers entitling electors to vote at UK general elections is not defined in law but has been ruled by the courts to entail a considerable degree of permanence. Electoral Registration Officers decide in the light of the relevant circumstances whether a person may be said to be resident at a particular address. Eligibility to vote in general elections in the UK does not extend to (a) citizens of European Union States who are not UK or Irish citizens, unless they are also resident qualifying Commonwealth citizens (Cypriot or Maltese) and (b) non-EU migrants with a right to remain unless they also are resident Commonwealth citizens whose right is still extant.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures are planned to help combat opium production in Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: The UK, as lead nation, remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in the implementation of their comprehensive National Drug Control Strategy. We are working with the Afghan Government and others to increase activity in all areas of their strategy over the coming year—the principles of which were underlined by President Karzai during the first Afghan Counter Narcotics National Conference held at the beginning of December shortly after his inauguration. As well as co-ordinating the activity of international partners, we are providing substantial financial and practical support—spending more than £100 million over the period 2003–06.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement I made on Afghanistan: Counter Narcotics on 29 November 2004, Official Report, columns 17–18WS. Since then, we have already seen a number of developments, such as the start of the Criminal Justice Task Force training programme in December, which will help to bring about the successful prosecution of drugs traffickers. So far over the last financial year, we have run seven training courses on intelligence and investigation techniques for the Afghan Counter-Narcotics Police; supported over five major seizures; provided a mobile forensic laboratory; and helped to establish regional law enforcement offices in seven provincial centres outside Kabul.
	In addition, the UK works closely with Afghanistan's neighbours, including providing assistance, to help their efforts to counter the flow of opiates from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate has been made of the percentage of the UK's heroin supply coming from Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: HM Customs and Excise estimate that approximately 25–30 tonnes of heroin is smuggled into the UK each year and that over 95 per cent. originates from Afghanistan. This represents less than 10 per cent. of Afghanistan's potential heroin production in 2004.
	The UK, as lead nation, is committed to supporting the Afghan Government in the implementation of their comprehensive National Drug Control Strategy. I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement I made on Afghanistan: Counter Narcotics on 29 November 2004, Official Report, columns 17–18WS.

African Union Summit (Gabon)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department sent observers to the African Union summit in Gabon; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We did not send observers to the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council meeting in Libreville, Gabon on 10 January 2005. We do however, follow closely the AU's development. I will attend the next AU summit in Abuja later this month.

Armament Sales (China)

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he makes an evaluation of the human rights performance of recipient countries in decisions on their eligibility to purchase British armaments.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The United Kingdom has one of the strictest and most transparent arms export licensing systems of any country. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other announced Government policies. The criteria include our commitment not to issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression. The Government will also exercise special caution and vigilance in issuing licences to countries where serious violations of human rights have been established by the competent bodies of the UN, the Council of Europe or by the EU.

Armament Sales (China)

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the governments of China's neighbouring countries on the lifting of the EU's embargo on the sale of armaments to the People's Republic of China.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The review of the EU Arms Embargo on China and any decisions arising from it are to be undertaken by the EU only. But in discussions, China and other countries in the region have expressed an interest in the issue. The EU will take all relevant factors into account in the review.
	The European Council in December 2004 discussed the embargo and invited the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU to take forward work on the review. The Council underlined that the result of any decision should not be an increase of arms exports from EU member states to China, neither in quantitative terms nor in qualitative terms. The European Council also recalled the importance of the criteria of the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports, including criteria regarding stability and security in the region.

Burma

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement of 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 1674–82, on European Affairs, if he will name the state to which he refers in column 1679 as holding strong commercial interests in Burma; which companies are involved; what representations he has received from these companies; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: No. I have nothing further to add to my statement.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) (a) to suspend Burma from the organisation and (b) not to proceed with Burma's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006.

Douglas Alexander: The terms of membership of ASEAN is an internal matter for its members.
	However, we take advantage of our regular bilateral and multilateral contacts with all ASEAN nations to encourage substantive change in Burma. The prospect of Burmese chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 makes the need for change all the more pressing.

Burma

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the scale of the impact of the Asian tsunami disaster on Burma in addition to the official reports of damage and casualties made by the Burmese Government.

Douglas Alexander: Burma has been largely spared the destructive forces of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. The initial emergency needs have been met by the Burmese regime and by the aid community. The assessment of the scale of impact by the Tsunami Assistance Co-ordination Group (chaired by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and made up of representatives of the UN organisations and various other international NGOs) is in line with the Burmese Government's own findings with a death toll of approximately 60–80 people. It is estimated that 5,000–7,000 have been directly affected through a loss of their homes, with a further 10,000–15,000 suffering a loss of livelihood.
	Non-governmental organisations in Thailand estimate that up to 2,500 Burmese migrant workers may have been killed in Southern Thailand.

Burma

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Burmese chairmanship of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006; and what the implications of the Burmese chairmanship are for the UK's relations with ASEAN.

Douglas Alexander: We are concerned about plans for Burma to take over the Chairmanship of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2006 unless there is real progress towards genuine democratisation in Burma. We use our regular bilateral and multilateral contacts with all ASEAN members to encourage them to press the military regime in Burma to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the democratic movement and ethnic groups as soon as possible. The prospect of Burmese chairmanship of ASEAN makes the need for change all the more pressing.

Burma

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the UN Security Council regarding human rights abuses in Burma.

Douglas Alexander: We have raised our concerns on the situation in Burma, including the many human rights violations there, in the UN and with our Security Council Partners. However, there is no consensus at present to bring Burma before the Security Council.

Departmental Staff

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of his Department's staff is based in London.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employs approximately 6,000 UK-based staff and approximately 9,500 locally engaged staff. All locally engaged staff work overseas. At any one time, approximately 2,000 staff (12.9 per cent.) work in the FCO's buildings in London and about 1,200 (7.7 per cent.) at Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes.

European Constitution Referendum

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's plans for the proposed referendum on the constitutional treaty for the European Union.

Denis MacShane: The Gracious Speech on 23 November announced that a Bill would be introduced to give effect to the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe, subject to a referendum. The Bill will set out provisions for the holding of the referendum.

Free Trade Unions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have been assisted by his Department in the development of free trade unions.

Douglas Alexander: Free trade unions can have a vital role to play in the development of democracy, human rights and economic prosperity. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has sought to promote the development of free trade unions in many parts of the world. For example, the FCO has supported the development of better labour market practices through programmes within the Global Opportunities Fund. These countries have included China, Serbia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The delivery of the programmes has often involved close working between the FCO and the UK trade unions. The FCO has also provided logistical support and briefing to UK trade unions in their own work in seeking to promote the development of free trade unions in various countries. These have included Iraq, China, Zimbabwe, the Occupied Territories and Israel. The FCO has established a strong partnership with the Trades Union Congress in Britain in support of many of these activities and initiatives. For example, the FCO set up a conference for regional trades unionists in Antigua in 2004 in close consultation with the TUC.

Illegal Logging

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking in conjunction with other Government Departments to encourage developed countries to collaborate to discourage (a) the practice of illegal logging and (b) trade in forest products.

Bill Rammell: The UK plays a key role in international efforts to combat illegal logging and to encourage sustainable forest management. This will be an objective for our presidencies of the G8 and EU in 2005.
	The UK is working with EU partners on the development of the EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. This includes the development of EU legislation to prevent illegal timber from entering into the European market and negotiation of Voluntary Partnership Agreements with key timber producing countries. These agreements will require partner countries to establish schemes to license legally produced timber. Timber originating in FLEGT partner countries will not be permitted to be imported into the EU without such licences. The UK also supports Forest Law Enforcement and Governance regional initiatives in Africa and Asia to help developing countries strengthen their forest governance and trade.
	As part of this overall approach, the UK Government have been seeking, since July 2000, to purchase their timber from legal and sustainable sources and have been promoting the benefits of this policy to other countries, particularly those that import significant quantities of timber.
	The UK works through key multilateral environment agreements and other international fora, including the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species, Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Forum on Forests, to encourage sustainable use of forest products and protection and conservation of endangered species.

Iraq

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK private security firms and personnel are employed in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The Government employ Control Risks Group and ArmorGroup to provide security for our staff in Iraq. ArmorGroup are also contracted by the Government to provide 40 international police advisers in southern Iraq. There are a number of other UK based security firms and personnel working in Iraq which are contracted to other employers.
	We do not have a list of these firms. However, we encourage all British nationals in Iraq to register with the British embassy in Baghdad or the offices of the British embassy in Basra and Kirkuk.

Iraq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's assessment of the allegations of corruption in connection with the operation of the United Nations' oil for food programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The Government take very seriously all allegations of corruption surrounding the UN's Oil for Food (OFF) programme in Iraq. The Government are concerned about the assessment made by the Iraq Survey Group on the likely nature and scale of OFF corruption in its report of 6 October 2004. The Government are co-operating fully with the Independent Inquiry Committee appointed by the UN in April 2004 to investigate these allegations. It would be inappropriate to comment on any specific allegations of wrongdoing until the inquiry is completed.

Lusitania

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government will be represented at 90th anniversary commemorations of the sinking of the Lusitania close to the Old Head of Kinsale or elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I am not aware of an invitation for the Government to be represented at any anniversary commemorations of the sinking of the Lusitania.

Ministerial Engagements

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004.

Jack Straw: Engagements I take on are cancelled very rarely, and then only if this is unavoidable. We do not however keep records of any such cancellations.

Nigeria

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential for political instability in Nigeria following recent increased levels of civil unrest emanating from the national elections of 2003.

Chris Mullin: We do not believe the situation in Nigeria has worsened significantly since the April 2003 elections, although there have been some worrying outbreaks of violence, notably in Plateau State and the Niger Delta. We judge the principal cause of such incidents is over control of resources and political power. Officials from the British High Commission in Nigeria have been in close touch with the Federal and relevant State authorities on these events.

Press Officers

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press officers are employed in the Department.

Jack Straw: As at April 2004, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office employed 18 press officers within its main press office in London. This figure excludes press and public affairs officers posted to British overseas missions.
	There are approximately 180 officers, both UK-based and locally engaged, employed within our missions overseas who spend a percentage of their time on press and public affairs. Some of these are full time. An exact breakdown of these figures is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Seal Pups

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Canadian Government about the culling of seal pups in the forthcoming season; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 18 January 2005
	We last made formal representations to the Canadian Government in 1999 and the matter was raised again in May 2004. The Canadian authorities are fully aware of our views. We do not accept the need for any seal cull, but if one does take place it should be sustainable and based on a precautionary principle.

Sexual Abuse (UN Peacekeeping Troops)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the UN on allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeeping troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and whether he has discussed this matter with the governments of the countries concerned.

Bill Rammell: The recent reports of allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is disturbing. We have fully supported the actions of the UN Secretary-General in appointing Prince Zeid of Jordan as his special adviser on this issue. In addition, we have had detailed discussions with officials of other governments to decide how best to ensure that this issue is properly dealt with in the United Nations. We have agreed that the Special Committee on Peacekeeping during their meeting at the end of January will ask the UN Secretary-General to commission a full report and to come back to the Security Council with concrete recommendations and to ensure that any recommendations are implemented.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the Government are playing in assisting peace talks between the Government of Sudan and rebel organisations in the Darfur region.

Chris Mullin: A UK observer attends the Abuja peace talks between the Government of Sudan and the rebel organisations in Darfur where he presses both sides to reach agreement on political issues. We are urging both sides to fully implement the provisions of the Security and Humanitarian protocols signed in Abuja as part of this process, and to participate constructively when the talks reconvene.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of his Department's resources have been dedicated to diplomatic representation in Yemen in the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The percentage of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's budget spent in Yemen from 1 April 1998 is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1998–99 0.10 
			 1999–2000 0.15 
			 2000–01 0.25 
			 2001–02 0.26 
			 2002–03 0.28 
			 2003–04 0.28 
		
	
	No figures are held centrally for the years 1994–95 to 1997–98.

Zimbabwe

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

Chris Mullin: The human rights situation in Zimbabwe remains bad. Zimbabweans are subject to political violence and intimidation. Attacks on what little is left of the independent media continue, and an NGO bill about to become law will restrict the freedom of civil society. There is no indication that parliamentary elections in March will be genuinely free and fair. We continue, with our international partners, to promote a return to democratic governance and the rule of law.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Freedom of Information

John Mann: To ask the Leader of the House what categories of information are available under Freedom of Information legislation that have not been provided in written parliamentary answers by his office in the last three years.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs earlier today in column 140W.

Ministerial Engagements

John Gummer: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the official engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004.

Peter Hain: There is no record kept of cancelled engagements in my diary. When engagements have had to be cancelled, wherever possible we try to reinstate them at a later date. All engagements are subject to ministerial and parliamentary business.

TREASURY

Alcohol-related Deaths

Mark Fisher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how many deaths in (a) North Staffordshire and (b) Stoke on Trent alcohol was the primary cause in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Mark Fisher, dated 24 January 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for how many deaths in (a) North Staffordshire and (b) Stoke on Trent, alcohol was the primary cause in each of the past five years. (209906)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. Figures in the attached table show number of deaths where the underlying cause of death indicated a condition directly related to alcohol use, in the years 1999 to 2003 among residents in the former Health Authority of North Staffordshire and the Unitary Authority of Stoke on Trent.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) definition of alcohol-related deaths only includes those causes regarded as being most directly due to alcohol consumption. Apart from deaths due to accidental poisoning with alcohol, this definition excludes external causes of death, such as road traffic deaths and other accidents, and alcohol-related suicides and homicides. Estimates of the annual total number of deaths in which alcohol has played a role can therefore vary widely depending on the criteria used. The definition used by ONS allows for consistent comparisons over time for those deaths where a clear association with alcohol consumption can generally be assumed.
	
		Alcohol-related deaths(55) in the former health authority of North Staffordshire (which comprises the four primary care trusts of: Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Stoke and South Stoke) and Stoke on Trent unitary authority(56), 1999 to 2003(57) -- Number of deaths
		
			  Former North Staffordshire health authority  Stoke on Trent unitary authority 
		
		
			 1999 61 35 
			 2000 60 39 
			 2001 62 39 
			 2002 69 40 
			 2003 90 50 
		
	
	(55) For the years 1999–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes used by ONS to define alcohol-related deaths are listed below:
	291(Alcoholic psychoses
	303(Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0(Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5(Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571(Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860(Accidental poisoning by alcohol.
	For the years 2001–2003 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were used:
	F10(Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	I42.6(Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70(Alcoholic liver disease
	K73(Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74(Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45(Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol.
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in: Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp 5–14.
	(56) Usual residents of these areas.
	(57) Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Corporation Tax

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2004, Official Report, columns 981–82W, on corporation tax, if he will provide the information which he collects for the most recent years for which it is available.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible separately to identify from central corporation tax records national governing bodies for sport or international sporting headquarters in the UK. These governing bodies are grouped under 'recreational services' which include many other service types such as radio and television, leisure facilities and self-employed artists.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated (a) 13 December 2004 with regard to Ms Amaal Azi, (b) 9 December 2004 with regard to Mr. Ken Wych and (c) 10 December 2004 with regard to Ms Jade Summer.

Dawn Primarolo: I have replied to letters referred to under (a) and (c). Letter regarding Mr. Ken Wych, dated 6 December, was transferred to the Department for Works and Pensions on 9 December and notified to you.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to answer the letter dated 23 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Carl Walker.

Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.

Council Tax

Mark Fisher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dwellings in Stoke on Trent are in council tax bands (a) A, (b) B, (c) G and (d) H; and what percentage of all dwellings in Stoke on Trent each represents.

Dawn Primarolo: As at 25 October 2004 the number of dwellings banded in Stoke-on-Trent totalled 109,716.
	
		
			  Number of dwellings banded Percentage 
		
		
			 (a) Band A 68,809 63 
			 (b) Band B 21,207 19 
			 (c) Band G 123 0.1 
			 (d) Band H 46 0.04

Council Tax

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of the council tax rebate grant paid to Scottish local authorities was (a) this year and (b) in each of the last three years.

Paul Boateng: Council tax benefit is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to council tax payers in Scotland in the same way as in the remainder of Great Britain; grants to Scottish local authorities are a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive.

Death Certification

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take regarding the release of certified death records to appropriate private sector bodies in order to facilitate the prevention of fraud through impersonation of the deceased.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Alan Whitehead, dated 24 January 2005
	As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the release of certified death records to the private sector for fraud prevention purposes. (209840)
	The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 is quite specific as to the means of access to records of deaths held by registration officers and myself. The Act gives persons the right to search the indexes in order to identify the entries they are looking for and to obtain certified copies (certificates) on payment of the statutory fee. Neither registration officers nor I have any powers to disclose or share information in any other way.
	Proposals in the form of the draft Regulatory Reform (Registration of Births and Deaths England and Wales) Order 2004, presented to Parliament on 22 July 2004, contained a draft provision that would have enabled me to provide list cleaning services that would have assisted the private sector in combating fraud relating to impersonation of the deceased. The House of Commons' Regulatory Reform Committee and House of Lords' Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, whose first scrutiny reports were published in December 2004, decided that the draft Order should not proceed to its second stage scrutiny as it was an inappropriate use of the order-making powers in the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. The Government is now considering its next steps for modernisation of the civil registration service.
	My officials continue to be in contact with representative Private Sector Bodies to discuss how this issue can be addressed.

Debt Relief

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has held discussions with experts in institutions in the City of London to seek advice on new methods of restructuring and financing international debt.

Stephen Timms: Treasury Ministers and officials regularly exchange views with financial sector experts on a wide number of issues, including new methods of restructuring and financing international debt.

Debt Relief

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect that debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries will have on (a) foreign direct investment and (b) private bank lending;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect that debt relief will have on the international credit standing of each heavily indebted poor country;
	(3)  what research he has conducted into the effect on each heavily indebted poor country's credit standing of debt relief by (a) Paris Club countries and (b) other countries.

Stephen Timms: The majority of HIPCs have no access to the capital markets, and are dependent on grants and concessional financing from the official sector. The Enhanced HIPC Initiative, and our proposals for deeper multilateral debt relief, are designed to deliver genuine debt sustainability to the world's poorest countries, and to free up resources for the investments in health, education, and infrastructure necessary to achieve the millennium development goals.
	Countries need the right preconditions in terms of physical infrastructure and human capital to be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by international trade and investment. That means increased levels of public sector investments are the essential counterparts to private investment. The World Bank estimates that effective aid 'crowds in' private investment by $2 for every $1 of aid.

Debt Relief

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the balance of trade figures were between the UK and each heavily indebted poor country in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Balance of trade figures between the UK and each HIPC country for each of the last five years can be found in the Overseas Trade Statistics published by HM Customs and Excise, which is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the cost of travel within the UK for the Department was in each year since 1997; and how much of this was spent on (a) hire cars, (b) helicopter hire, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence;
	(2)  how much the Department spent on first class travel in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many overseas trips, and at what total cost, have been made by his Department in each year since 1997; and what the costs of (a) flights, (b) internal travel, (c) hotel accommodation and (d) subsistence were of each trip.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on travel in each of the last seven years.

Stephen Timms: The costs for the Treasury of all travel and all subsistence within the UK, all travel and all subsistence overseas over the last two years, and all first class travel for 2003–04 are given in the table. In respect of total costs for earlier years, I refer to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary to the hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 482W. Further detail in respect of the earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code", the "Civil Service Management Code" and the "Code of Conduct for Special Advisers".
	
		£000
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Total UK travel, including first class 437 551 
			
			 Total UK travel includes:   
			 Self drive car hire 3 2 
			 Helicopter hire 0 0 
			
			 Total UK subsistence, including hotel  accommodation 49 85 
			 Total overseas travel, including first class 993 1,332 
			 Total overseas subsistence, including hotel  accommodation 260 237 
			 Total first class travel (UK and overseas) 1 380 
		
	
	Note:
	The costs of first class travel are sourced from the Treasury's travel management contract, which began in July 2002. 2003–04 is therefore the first year for which a complete figure can be given without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Policies (Clwyd, South)

Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd, South constituency, the effects on Clwyd, South of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Stephen Timms: The Government have put in place a radical programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 to improve the economic performance of all parts of the UK. There is significant evidence that these policies have already yielded considerable benefits for the Clwyd, South constituency. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 52 per cent., and both long-term unemployment and long-term youth unemployment have nearly been eliminated, with falls of 85 per cent. and 92 per cent. respectively.
	The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at Parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics. gov.uk./.

Earnings (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the gross (a) average and (b) median weekly earnings (i) including and (ii) excluding overtime are for (A) male, (B) female and (C) all full-time workers in (1) Scotland and (2) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of (a) male, (b) female and (c) all full-time workers in (i) Scotland, (ii) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (iii) the United Kingdom earn less than (A) £279.00 per week, (B) £209.62 per week and (C) £168.75 per week in gross pay, (1) including and (2) excluding overtime;
	(3)  what the (a) average and (b) median (i) hourly and (ii) weekly gross earnings (A) including and (B) excluding overtime are for (X) male, (Y) female and (Z) all full-time workers aged (1) 18 to 21, (2) 22 to 29, (3) 30 to 39, (4) 40 to 49 and (5) over 50 years in (aa) Scotland and (bb) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland;
	(4)  what the (a) average and (b) median (i) hourly and (ii) weekly gross earnings (A) including and (B) excluding overtime are for (X) male, (Y) female and (Z) all full-time workers in the (1) private, (2) public and (3) unclassified sectors in (aa) Scotland and (bb) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply. His answer has been placed in the Library.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's priorities for the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will be during the United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: As set out in Box 2.4 of the 2004 pre-Budget report, the Government will use their leadership of the G7/8 and the EU to tackle the key challenges of international poverty reduction, structural economic reform, trade reform and climate change.
	The Luxembourg-UK Annual Operating Programme sets out further details of priorities for 2005. These include delivering on the Lisbon agenda of more and better jobs, sustainable economic growth and increased competitiveness and regulatory reform. Copies of this are available in the Library of the House.

Employment Levels

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) actual and (b) percentage annual changes in job levels for the (i) private and (ii) public sectors were in the last two calendar years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Stephen O'Brien, dated 24 January 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about changes in job levels in the public and private sector. (210282)
	The most recent public and private sector job figures published by ONS on the basis of National Accounts definitions were published in the article "Jobs in the public sector: mid-2003" in the July 2004 issue of "Labour Market Trends".
	Drawing upon this source, the attached table shows the number of UK jobs in the public and private sectors for each of the years from 2001 to 2003, the latest available data. The table also shows the annual changes and annual percentage changes in these totals.
	Job levels for the private and public sectors are obtained from returns from public sector organisations and the Labour Force Survey, and are currently available on an annual basis. Private sector employment is calculated as the difference between overall employment as estimated from the Labour Force Survey, and public sector employment as derived from returns from public sector organisations.
	
		Change in the number of jobs in the public and private sectors; 2001–03
		
			  Public Sector Private Sector 
		
		
			 Job Level (Thousand) 
			 2001 5,203 23,659 
			 2002 5,292 23,703 
			 2003 5,454 23,801 
			 Increase in jobs over year (Thousand) 
			 2001 — — 
			 2002 89 44 
			 2003 162 98 
			 Percentage increase in jobs over year 
			 2001 — — 
			 2002 1.7 0.2 
			 2003 3.1 0.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey and returns from public sector organisations.

Haiti

Diane Abbott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Haiti will be included in his Department's recent proposals to support the countries least able to pay off World Bank debts by paying 10 per cent. of annual servicing of that debt.

Stephen Timms: The UK is proposing that the international community provide up to 100 per cent. relief on the debt owed by poor countries to the World Bank, African Development Bank, and IMF. We are leading the way by paying our share of debt payments owed to the World Bank and African Development Bank, and are calling for better use of IMF gold to fund its debt relief costs.
	Eligible countries include all post-completion point HIPCs, and all other low income IDA-only countries with suitably robust public expenditure management systems to ensure the savings are directed towards poverty reduction. The current proxy for this is whether the country is receiving direct poverty-reduction budgetary support from the World Bank through the poverty reduction support credit (PRSC). As an IDA-only country Haiti is potentially eligible for assistance under this initiative, and will be able to benefit after it receives support in this form from the World Bank.

Highly Indebted Poor Countries

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much external Government debt is owed by each highly indebted poor country to private financial institutions; and what proportion that sum is of total external debt in each case;
	(2)  what the (a) total external debt and (b) estimated annual repayment of that debt is for the Government of each highly indebted poor country (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of Government spending;
	(3)  how much external Government debt is owed by each highly indebted poor country, broken down by amounts owed to each (a) country and (b) multilateral institution.

Stephen Timms: The HIPC Status of Implementation Report published annually by the World Bank and IMF, in conjunction with individual country update reports, provide the data requested. These numbers are all publicly available, and can be found via the following links: http://www.imf.org/external/np/hipc/2004/082004.pdf; http://www.imf.org/external/country/index.htm.

International Finance Facility

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have agreed to participate in his proposed International Finance Facility; what amounts each participant has agreed to contribute; and on what financial terms.

Stephen Timms: The IFF will be a temporary financing mechanism to provide an additional $50 billion a year in development assistance between now and 2015. It will "frontload" commitments made at Monterrey by leveraging in money from the international capital markets, against long-term pledges of Monterrey commitments.
	42 countries—including France, Italy and Sweden—have given their support to the IFF. We have also received the support of a wide range of non-governmental organizations, faith groups and the business community.
	Decisions on the level of financing will be made when the IFF is established.

MRSA

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons it is not listed on a death certificate when MRSA has been a contributory factor.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 24 January 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for what reason it is not listed on a death certificate when MRSA has been a contributory factor. (210274)
	Doctors are required to complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the best of their knowledge and belief. Guidelines on completing death certificates are included at the front of every book of certificates. Certificates are not available without these instructions.
	In accordance with internationally accepted guidelines from the World Health Organization, these instructions tell doctors to include only conditions which they believe contributed to death.
	It is up to the individual doctor's clinical judgment to decide whether or not a condition present at or immediately before death contributed to death, and so should be mentioned on the death certificate. In addition, in the case of MRSA, whether the infection was antibiotic resistant or not may not be known to the doctor when completing the certificate.

Office Supplies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on office supplies in the last 12 months.

Stephen Timms: In the year ended 31 March 2004, the Treasury spent £308,000 on stationery.

Shellfish Farming

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Crown Estate has received from rents paid by shellfish farmers in (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the rents received in Orkney, Shetland, Scotland and the UK, over the last 10 years.
	
		£
		
			  Orkney Shetland Mainland and Western Isles Scotland totals England and Wales Northern Ireland UK totals 
		
		
			 2003–04 700 20,300 58,300 79,300 6,100 19,100 104,500 
			 2002–03 1,100 15,300 69,200 85,600 6,800 7,600 100,000 
			 2001–02 1,100 10,500 68,300 79,900 4,700 14,100 98,700 
			 2000–01 1,300 7,700 65,100 74,100 1,000 7,900 83,000 
			 1999–2000 1,000 4,900 58,800 64,700 1,700 8,200 74,600 
			 1998–99 900 3,800 59,800 64,500 700 3,900 69,100 
			 1997–98 1,000 1,700 61,200 63,900 600 4,000 68,500 
			 1996–97 900 300 58,100 59,300 1,000 3,700 64,000 
			 1995–96 900 500 57,900 59,300 600 5,400 65,300 
			 1994–95 900 400 59,900 61,200 700 5,400 67,300

Single Currency

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department are assigned to work on the UK's potential integration with the European Monetary Union.

Stephen Timms: The Chancellor's statement to the House on 9 June 2003 on UK membership of the single currency set out a reform agenda of concrete and practical steps to address the policy requirements identified by the assessment of the five economic tests. A range of officials from across the Treasury contribute to this work.

Single Currency

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on evaluation of the five economic tests for entry to the single currency.

Stephen Timms: The assessment of the five economic tests was comprehensive and rigorous. The assessment and supporting studies relate to a number of publicly stated Treasury objectives and the cost of producing them was met from within the Treasury's three-year departmental expenditure limits.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the appeal made by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead's constituent, Mr. Edwards, on 9 November 2004, against the decision of the Inland Revenue to recover a tax credit overpayment will be heard.

Dawn Primarolo: Claimants can appeal against decisions about their entitlement but there is no right of appeal against the recovery of an overpayment. The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26, "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?", which is available on the Department's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk, explains what claimants can do if they believe they should not be asked to pay back on overpayment.
	The Inland Revenue replied to my right hon. Friend and his constituent on 24 November 2004. The Department wrote again to the constituent on 14 December 2004. I have asked the Department to write to my right hon. Friend again in case he requires anything further.

Tax Credits

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Department has made of the procedures used by the Inland Revenue to recover tax credit overpayments since April 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue regularly assesses and reviews its procedures for recovering tax credit overpayments.
	The Inland Revenue's approach to dealing with overpayments is set out in a Code of Practice "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?". A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Tax Credits

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to how many tax credit recipients in (a) Scotland and (b) Moray local authority area tax credit overpayment notices have been issued since April 2004; what percentage of total claimants of tax credits this represents in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The amount of any overpayment of tax credits is detailed on the decision notices that the Inland Revenue sends to claimants. Information on the number of decision notices where an overpayment is shown is not available.
	For information on the number of tax credit overpayments I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Miss Begg) on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 129W.

Tax Credits

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Department has made of the (a) financial and (b) social impact on tax credit claimants of the tax credit overpayment recovery process; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 ("What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?") sets out their approach to handling overpayments of tax credits.

Tax Credits

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average amounts of tax credit overpayments to claimants since April 2004 in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the Moray local authority area are; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South East (Dr. Iddon) on 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 1596W.

Unemployment (Liverpool)

Louise Ellman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment were in Liverpool, Riverside in each of the last eight years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Louise Ellman, dated 24 January 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment in the Liverpool, Riverside Parliamentary Constituency. (210256)
	Table 1 gives estimates of the numbers of long-term unemployed people, both youth and adult, who were resident in the Liverpool Riverside Parliamentary Constituency, for each twelve month period ending February from 1999 to 2004, the most recent available period. Information on length of time unemployed is not available for earlier periods.
	These estimates from Labour Force Survey (LFS) are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.
	The Office for National Statistics also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas. Table 2 gives the annual average number of young people aged 18 to 24 years old and adults (aged 25 and over) resident in the Liverpool Riverside Parliamentary Constituency claiming JSA benefits for over 12 months or more in each year from 1997 to 2004.
	
		Table 1: Long-term(58) unemployment in Liverpool, Riverside parliamentary constituency
		
			 12 months ending February Youth unemployed (aged 16–24) Adult unemployed (aged 25 and over) 
		
		
			 1999 (59)— 2,000 
			 2000 (59)— 1,000 
			 2001 (59)— 2,000 
			 2002 (59)— 2,000 
			 2003 (59)— 2,000 
			 2004 1,000 2,000 
		
	
	(58) People unemployed for 12 months or more.
	(59) Estimates not shown as they are potentially disclosive.
	Note:
	These estimates are based on very small sample sizes and are subject to a higher degree of sampling variability. They should therefore be treated with caution.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: JSA claimants resident in the Liverpool, Riverside constituency claiming for 12 months or more
		
			  Annual averages Youth claimants (aged 18–24)(60) Adult claimants (aged 25 and over)(60) 
		
		
			 1997 600 2,585 
			 1998 425 1,985 
			 1999 120 1,755 
			 2000 50 1,550 
			 2001 30 1,275 
			 2002 35 1,085 
			 2003 35 1,070 
			 2004 50 970 
		
	
	(60) Computerised claims only.
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

World Bank/IMF

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has held discussions with (a) the World Bank (b) the IMF and (c) other interested parties to encourage (i) the World Bank and (ii) the IMF (A) to publish the minutes of its meetings, (B) to publish the record of its voting and decisions on lending and policy and (C) to adopt a practice of transparency and openness in its decision making.

Stephen Timms: The UK is a leading supporter of greater transparency at the IMF and World Bank, and has held extensive discussions with the IMF and World Bank to encourage publication of minutes, lending and policy decisions, and more transparent decision making. These discussions have taken place at ministerial level through the Chancellor and Secretary of State for International Development, and at official level through the UK's Executive Director at the IMF and the World Bank.
	There has been significant progress in recent years, with the agreement in 2003 of new IMF guidelines which presume publication of all surveillance, programme and policy documents. Programmes which involve exceptional access to fund resources will not normally be approved unless authorities agree to publish programme documents. In addition, the IMF board's agenda is made public in advance, and decisions are published through Public Information Notices. Discussions are ongoing at the World Bank on the extension of their transparency policy. The Treasury's Annual Report to Parliament on the UK and the IMF, and DFID's Report on the UK and the World Bank, will set out in greater detail the UK's position on transparency in these two institutions.

HEALTH

Alzheimer's

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women suffering from Alzheimer's disease within the Greater London area.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Care Homes (Cleanliness)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligation is placed on the Health Protection Agency to carry out an investigation when a care home resident dies of MRSA; and what such an inquiry involves.

Melanie Johnson: Care home providers are required to notify the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) of the circumstances of a care home resident's death. The CSCI may decide to investigate those circumstances. Ministers may also cause an inquiry to be held. Where a resident dies of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is under no obligation to carry out an investigation. However, if invited, the HPA could provide expert advice and support to any investigation instigated by CSCI or by a coroner.

Clinical Critical Mass

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on clinical critical mass in hospital trusts of the independent sector treating a high percentage of simpler cases of elective admissions.

John Hutton: holding answer 20 January 2005
	Separating out routine elective procedures allows hospitals to focus on emergencies and more complicated cases. Treatment centres, of which more than half are actually directly in the national health service, allow for faster treatment of NHS patients at up to eight times faster than traditional NHS services.
	Independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) provide extra capacity over and above expanding NHS capacity and have been negotiated to ensure that the ISTC programme meets the needs of the NHS locally.

Dentistry

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will lay before Parliament the General Dental Council and the Dentists Act (Amendment) Order 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment Order) 2005 will be laid in the spring.

Dentistry

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists there are in each county in England per 10,000 of the population; how many accept NHS patients; and what the figures were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Rosie Winterton: pursuant to her reply, 16 December 2004, Official Report, c. 1312W
	I regret my previous reply was incorrect. It should read as follows:
	The number of general and personal dentists at September in the years 1997, 2001 and 2004 in each county in England per 100,000 of the population, is shown in the table. All of these dentists are doing national health service work.
	
		Number of general and personal dental service dentists per 100,000 of the population in each county in England at 30 September 1997, 2001 and 2004
		
			 County Dentists per 100,000 of population 1997 Dentists per 100,000 of population 2001 Dentists per 100,000 of population 2004 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 33 49 50 
			 Buckinghamshire 46 51 54 
			 Cambridgeshire 34 40 46 
			 Cheshire 46 49 53 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 36 44 46 
			 Cumbria 38 40 44 
			 Derbyshire 35 40 45 
			 Devon 40 49 48 
			 Dorset 36 41 41 
			 Durham 34 33 37 
			 East Sussex 43 45 48 
			 Essex 38 41 41 
			 Gloucestershire 45 51 54 
			 Hampshire 36 43 47 
			 Hertfordshire 51 58 62 
			 Kent 42 42 45 
			 Lancashire 37 39 42 
			 Leicestershire 30 32 34 
			 Lincolnshire 24 29 31 
			 Norfolk 39 45 47 
			 Northamptonshire 29 29 37 
			 Northumberland 37 37 40 
			 North Yorkshire 38 41 48 
			 Nottinghamshire 36 42 40 
			 Oxfordshire 39 49 54 
			 Shropshire 35 43 52 
			 Somerset 38 43 48 
			 Staffordshire 30 34 36 
			 Suffolk 38 41 44 
			 Surrey 51 61 63 
			 Warwickshire 32 39 51 
			 West Sussex 44 54 66 
			 Wiltshire 34 39 36 
			 Worcestershire 39 49 58 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board and resident population figures 1997, 2001 and 2004
	Some areas do not have county status even though they may lie within county boundaries. For these areas, the number of general and personal dental service dentists is given by local authority area. This information is given in the following table.
	
		Number of general and personal dental service dentists per100,000 of the population in local authorities not defined by county at 30 September 1997, 2001 and 2004
		
			 Local authority Dentists per 100,000 of population 1997 Dentists per 100,000 of population 2001 Dentists per 100,000 of population 2004 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 30 36 35 
			 Barnet 59 64 62 
			 Barnsley 37 40 37 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 50 57 62 
			 Bexley 41 41 44 
			 Birmingham 37 40 44 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 41 43 44 
			 Blackpool 36 39 41 
			 Bolton 42 41 38 
			 Bournemouth 47 55 54 
			 Bracknell Forest 41 44 55 
			 Bradford 36 37 39 
			 Brent 61 63 65 
			 Brighton and Hove 49 54 59 
			 Bristol, City of 48 54 54 
			 Bromley 48 52 57 
			 Bury 44 40 46 
			 Calderdale 37 38 38 
			 Camden 81 82 76 
			 City of London 212 82 144 
			 Coventry 31 37 41 
			 Croydon 53 56 58 
			 Darlington 33 43 49 
			 Derby 36 42 47 
			 Doncaster 35 38 39 
			 Dudley 31 35 38 
			 Ealing 71 63 64 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 25 28 31 
			 Enfield 42 47 56 
			 Gateshead 44 48 45 
			 Greenwich 45 46 50 
			 Hackney 45 41 38 
			 Halton 32 36 39 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 81 89 86 
			 Haringey 60 56 60 
			 Harrow 50 58 63 
			 Hartlepool 30 30 28 
			 Havering 38 47 52 
			 Herefordshire, County of 42 49 51 
			 Hillingdon 43 49 51 
			 Hounslow 68 72 69 
			 Isle of Wight 31 32 32 
			 Islington 51 75 65 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 58 51 49 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 30 38 37 
			 Kingston upon Thames 48 52 53 
			 Kirklees 38 43 41 
			 Knowsley 35 39 43 
			 Lambeth 50 52 58 
			 Leeds 41 44 43 
			 Leicester 45 44 45 
			 Lewisham 47 54 50 
			 Liverpool 44 43 45 
			 Luton 36 48 48 
			 Manchester 53 51 51 
			 Medway 38 39 45 
			 Merton 43 46 49 
			 Middlesbrough 48 56 57 
			 Milton Keynes 39 47 49 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 47 51 62 
			 Newham 37 38 39 
			 North East Lincolnshire 29 32 31 
			 North Lincolnshire 23 29 28 
			 North Somerset 46 52 57 
			 North Tyneside 34 34 38 
			 Nottingham 43 45 64 
			 Oldham 39 37 34 
			 Peterborough 33 42 57 
			 Plymouth 39 49 50 
			 Poole 35 40 63 
			 Portsmouth 32 39 41 
			 Reading 51 52 75 
			 Redbridge 48 60 60 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 41 41 40 
			 Richmond upon Thames 57 61 61 
			 Rochdale 35 33 33 
			 Rotherham 36 39 33 
			 Rutland 55 46 42 
			 Salford 42 44 52 
			 Sandwell 40 43 47 
			 Sefton 42 43 42 
			 Sheffield 40 43 48 
			 Slough 39 45 67 
			 Solihull 34 44 51 
			 South Gloucestershire 41 37 42 
			 South Tyneside 40 39 44 
			 Southampton 34 40 43 
			 Southend-on-Sea 35 41 38 
			 Southwark 46 39 41 
			 St. Helens 36 45 49 
			 Stockport 42 44 48 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 47 54 54 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 30 39 39 
			 Sunderland 31 37 40 
			 Sutton 51 57 60 
			 Swindon 36 42 43 
			 Tameside 35 37 37 
			 Telford and Wrekin 33 35 48 
			 Thurrock 24 28 31 
			 Torbay 46 56 51 
			 Tower Hamlets 36 37 46 
			 Trafford 47 53 52 
			 Wakefield 32 37 34 
			 Walsall 26 28 31 
			 Waltham Forest 37 42 47 
			 Wandsworth 59 65 57 
			 Warrington 39 50 56 
			 West Berkshire 32 40 45 
			 Westminster 113 103 84 
			 Wigan 38 39 40 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 38 50 63 
			 Wirral 46 52 50 
			 Wokingham 31 38 45 
			 Wolverhampton 31 37 43 
			 York 46 56 60 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board and resident population figures for 1997, 2001 and 2004
	Population figures for 1997 and 2001 are resident estimates 2001 based. Population figures for 2004 are resident population projections 2003 based.

Dentistry

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists have left the NHS for wholly private practice within the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of dentists leaving the general dental service (GDS) or personal dental service (PDS) in the five London strategic health authority (SHA) areas are shown in the table. Dentists are counted as leavers if they are not practising in the general or personal dental service on 30 September, but were working on 30 September in the previous year.
	
		Dentists leaving the general or personal dental service in the five London SHA areas in the 12 month period ending September
		
			  Number of dentists who have left the GDS or PDS 
		
		
			 2002 323 
			 2003 231 
			 2004 253 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board
	Dentists will stop practising GDS or PDS dentistry for any one of a number of reasons, including retirement and short-term breaks. Very few dentists stop national health service work altogether in order to do private work.

Dermatology

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the value of competency frameworks for health professionals working in dermatology; and what action he will take to ensure that they are rolled out across the NHS.

John Hutton: Competency frameworks and national occupational standards are already being used in the national health service to design services that are more flexible and relate directly to patient choices and needs. The aim is to enable individuals to develop career pathways in accordance with local needs and their own abilities, enabling them to progress or gain access to other areas of work based on the competences that they have achieved.
	Skills for Health (SFH), the sector skills council for health, is currently considering the development of a competence framework that will cover all health professionals working in dermatology as part of its 2005–06 programme of work.
	SFH is very much aware that the competency frameworks it produces need to be backed up with plans to spread their use. It is developing networks and other mechanisms to spread best practice in the use of competencies.

Dermatology

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the long-term conditions care group workforce team dermatology group has in the development of NHS dermatology services; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The dermatology sub-group of the long-term conditions care group workforce team was established in May 2003, with a remit including assessing the make-up of the dermatology workforce, informing national planning processes and sharing good and innovative practice on a national and local level. The dermatology sub-group has worked with the British Dermatological Nursing Group to conduct a survey of dermatology nurses working in both primary and secondary care and analysis of the findings is now underway.
	The sub-group has also helped develop a primary care nursing skin care course in conjunction with the university of Southampton. Further, the group is currently in the process of identifying a range of service models, that cover all levels of the patient pathway and include examples of good practice.

Dermatology

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take to incorporate (a) specialist nurses and (b) non-consultant career grade doctors within e-booking for dermatology.

John Hutton: The Choose and Book service is available to be rolled-out to all clinics that receive outpatient referrals from general practitioners. This includes dermatology clinics run by specialist nurses and non-consultant career grade doctors. The implementation of Choose and Book in clinics that do not provide consultant outpatient services is a matter for providers, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities, to decide on locally.

Dermatology

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of e-booking on the (a) workload of and (b) quality of patient care by dermatology consultants.

John Hutton: Electronic booking through the choose and book service is expected to have a positive impact on secondary care working practices and has significant potential to reduce consultant workload.
	An independent report produced by Yorkshire Institute for Clinical and Health Informatics (December 2003) found that electronic booking reduced did-not attend rates and offers substantial benefits to patients who were able to choose convenient appointments that fitted in with their other commitments at work and home.

DH/EU Co-operation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the supporting, co-ordinating and complementary action which may be undertaken by the EU in the field of protection and improvement of human health under article I-17 of the proposed EU constitution.

John Hutton: None. The Treaty has not yet been ratified by the United Kingdom and several other member states and is therefore not yet in force.

Doctors

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of doctors per head of population is in England.

John Hutton: The standard ratio used by the Department is per 100,000 population. The population data used is from the Office for National Statistics population census.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) staff and general medical practitioners, all doctors per 100,000 population -- Number (headcount)
		
			 England, as at 30 September 2003 Doctors Population Doctors per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 All Doctors 109,964 49,855,740 220.6 
			 Of which:
			 HCHS Doctors(61) 76,400 49,855,740 153.2 
			 General Medical Practitioners(62) 33,564 49,855,740 67.3 
		
	
	(61) Excludes hospital medical hospital practitioners and hospital medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.
	(62) All practitioners include general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, GP retainers, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Sources:
	Department of Health GMS and PMS statistics.
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
	2001 ONS population census.

Drug Overdoses

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug overdose admissions there were to accident and emergency departments in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004, broken down by hospital.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not collected on the number of attendances at accident and emergency departments related to drug overdoses. However, data on the number of emergency admissions via A and E related to drug overdoses by National health service trust for 2002, 2003 and 2004 have been placed in the Library.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 101W.

External Suppliers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many tenders were let by his Department to external suppliers in the financial year 2003–04; and what the value was.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold centrally a record of individual tenders, nor does it have similar details for its agencies. To secure such details would involve disproportionate cost.

Free Eye Tests

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many old age pensioners in the Harwich constituency have benefited from the introduction of free eye tests.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency are not collected centrally. Information by primary care trust is collected and is available for 2003–04.
	The total number of sight tests undertaken on those people of 60 years and above in the Tendring PCT, which includes pensioners in the Harwich constituency, during 2003–04 is 15,967.
	The data for 2004–05 are not yet published.

Health Select Committee

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement before the Health Select Committee on 8 December 2004, when he will provide the information that he undertook to supply to the Committee in response to the questions from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford.

John Reid: I have done so.

Health/Social Care Staff

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to assist the least well-qualified staff in health and social care, in particular through the "Skills Escalator".

John Hutton: We are committed to supporting all national health service staff, including those least-well qualified, to realise their potential; to the benefit of the NHS, their communities, and themselves. The workforce development strategy, the "Skills Escalator", is one way in which NHS employers can do this.
	The "Skills Escalator" is about attracting and enabling a wider range of people to work within the NHS and giving those already in the NHS the opportunity to develop and enhance their skills and take on new and more challenging roles. We are continuing to promote the "Skills Escalator" to the NHS through "Skills for Health".
	The NHS Plan (July 2000) pledged major investment to develop staff who do not have professional qualifications. During the three years from April 2003, over £180 million will be invested in support of NHS learning accounts, national vocational qualifications (NVQs), adult literacy, numeracy and language skills (Skills for Life) development. This investment will support learning opportunities for up to 240,000 staff.
	Between April 2001 and September 2002 more than 43,000 staff accessed either a NHS learning account or NVQ training—of which over 21,000 undertook NVQ training to levels 2 or 3. Between April 2003 and March 2004 this rose to more than 65,000 staff accessing an NHS learning account and more than 34,000 undertaking NVQ training to levels 2 or 3.
	For social care, funding of £15 million is being provided through the Topss England national training strategy grant, with the aim of having an additional 300,000 social care staff qualified to NVQ2 or higher by 2006. Funding is also provided to local councils through the national training strategy grant.

IT Strategy

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the IT strategy for the NHS.

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards achieving an online system of (a) booking GP appointments, (b) health records and (c) prescription processing for NHS patients.

John Hutton: Key components of the national health service care records service were delivered in July 2004 to support electronic booking of appointments. These included support for secure access using smartcards and user authentication, patient demographic information and the protocols for secure messaging, data storage and retrieval. Alongside these elements of the NHS care record, the application for electronic appointment booking for patients went live in early adopter sites in July 2004. Work is now well advanced to introduce electronic prescriptions during early 2005, with the core application delivered for integration testing by the end of 2004 as planned. The new national network is now on track to deliver, and probably exceed, contracted broadband connections by the end of March 2005. Progress has also been made on other national programme for information technology (NPfIT) services, particularly the roll out of the quality management and analysis system (QMAS) application to support the general medical service contract and the implementation of the new contract with Cable and Wireless to deliver the "Contact" e-mail service.
	More detailed information can be found in the most recent (December 2004) edition of the NPflT's newsletter, "Making IT Work", available on the publications page of the NPfIT website at www.npfit.nhs.uk. Printed copies have been placed in the Library.

Language Therapists

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified speech and language therapists are employed by the NHS; how many unfilled vacancies there are; how many are in training; and what the Government target for speech and language therapists in post is.

John Hutton: There are no specific targets for speech and language therapists, though we expect that the national speech and language therapist workforce will grow in line with local workforce needs.
	As at September 2003, there were 6,243 speech and language therapists employed in the national health service, an increase of 28 per cent. since 1997.
	In 2003–04, 630 students entered training to become a speech and language therapist, an increase of 38 per cent. since 1999–2000.
	The Department's vacancy survey collects information on the number of vacancies lasting three months or more as at 31 March each year. As at March 2004, there were 193 three month vacancies for speech and language therapists, which represents a rate of 3.8 per cent.

Medicines (Licensing)/Regulation

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take measures to reduce the time between the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency granting a licence to first-in-class medicines and the issuing of guidance by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will instruct primary care trusts to give equal consideration to the routine use of medicines which are not reviewed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and those which are to be reviewed by NICE; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will direct the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to issue general guidance for new medicines at the time of their launch, followed by a full review or clinical guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) develops its guidance after careful consideration of the available evidence, and in close consultation with patient groups, professional organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. Where new drugs are referred to NICE for appraisal, it monitors the licensing position closely and schedules the appraisal so that guidance follows as soon as possible after the granting of a licence. Other sources of advice are available in advance of publication of full NICE guidance, including Medicines Resource Centre publications produced by the National Prescribing Centre and funded by NICE.
	In August 1999, the Department issued Health Service Circular 1999/176, which asks national health service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from NICE is not available at the time the technology first became available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of the available evidence.

Medicines (Licensing)/Regulation

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome has been of the exploration by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, following its discussions with HM Customs, for the use of effective counter-warnings on foreign websites selling prescription and pharmacy-only medicines direct to the public; what improvements HM Customs have made in recognising and dealing with such packages of medicines; how these improvements are reflected in the number of (a) items being impounded or (b) prosecutions for breaches of the Medicines Act 1971; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) controls the advertising, sale and supply of medicines on the United Kingdom market by regulation and enforcement of these regulations. Websites based overseas do not fall within UK jurisdiction and are therefore outside the MHRA's control. Although the MHRA cannot compel a foreign website to comply with UK domestic legislation, if there is a breach, details of the site will be passed on by the MHRA to overseas enforcement authorities.
	The MHRA is currently investigating 43 cases involving sale of medicines via the internet. In addition, 30 sites have been identified as being hosted overseas and are being forwarded to the appropriate national regulatory authorities.
	There is no restriction on the importation of medicines for personal consumption, unless they contain substances subject to control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Where Her Majesty's Customs and Excise detect importations of medicines and the quantities involved seem inconsistent with amounts for personal use, Customs officials alert the MHRA on the grounds of public interest. Representatives from Customs and MHRA are engaged in on-going discussions about how this process might be strengthened.

Mental Illness (Smoking Cessation)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how the proposals on banning smoking in enclosed public places will affect NHS mental health facilities.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Development Agency will shortly publish guidance for the national health service on the provision of smoke-free buildings to protect staff, patients and others from the health risks of second hand smoke.
	In NHS mental health facilities, the hospital is for some patients their main place of residence and therefore their home. We will be consulting on the special arrangements needed for establishments such as these in due course.

Midwives

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwife vacancies there are in (a) Kingston hospital and (b) South West London, (c) Merton, Surrey and Mid-Surrey, (d) London and (e) England.

John Hutton: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The national health service vacancy survey collects information on the number of vacancies lasting three months or more. Information on the number and rate of three month vacancies for midwives in England, London and the South East is shown in the following table.
	
		Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2004. Qualified midwifery staff three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post in London and South East Government Office Regions by strategic health authority and organisation.
		
			March 2004(63) September 2003(63) 
			Three month vacancy rate (percentage) Three month vacancy (number) Midwives—staff in post (whole-time equivalent)  Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			  England  3.3 619 18,444 23,941 
			 H London Government Office Region  8.2 250 3,026 3,981 
			
			 Q05 North Central London SHA  9.1 49 499 638 
			  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust RVL 11.3 20 172 247 
			  Barnet PCT 5A9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust RRP n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust TAF n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Camden PCT 5K7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Enfield PCT 5C1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Trust RP4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Haringey PCT 5C9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Islington PCT 5K8 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust RP6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North Central London SHA Q05 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust RAP 7.8 6 93 117 
			  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust RAL 12.2 12 85 105 
			  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust RAN n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust RNK n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  University College London Hospitals NHS Trust RRV 5.5 5 75 85 
			  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust RKE 6.4 7 74 84 
			
			 Q06 North East London SHA  6.4 42 694 871 
			  Barking and Dagenham PCT 5C2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust RF4 10.4 23 219 283 
			  Bails and The London NHS Trust RNJ 0.0 n/a 125 150 
			  City and Hackney PCT 5C3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust RWK n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Havering PCT 5A4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust RQX 6.0 7 133 159 
			  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust RNH 12.0 12 91 119 
			  Newham PCT 5C5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North East London Mental Health NHS Trust RAT n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North East London SHA Q06 (63)— n/a 2 2 
			  Redbridge PCT 5NA n/a n/a 1 1 
			  Tower Hamlets PCT 5C4 n/a n/a 0 1 
			  Waltham Forest PCT 5NC n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust RGC 0.0 n/a 122 156 
			
			 Q04 North West London SHA  7.4 47 634 842 
			  Brent PCT 5K5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust RV3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust RQM 19.5 23 109 151 
			  Ealing Hospital NHS Trust RC3 0.0 n/a 58 69 
			  Ealing PCT 5HX n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust RQN 3.4 4 122 141 
			  Harrow PCT 5K6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust RAS 0.0 n/a 92 175 
			  Hillingdon PCT SAT n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Hounslow PCT SHY n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Kensington and Chelsea PCT 5LA (63)— n/a 1 1 
			  North West London Hospitals NHS Trust RV8 0.0 n/a 109 137 
			  North West London SHA Q04 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust RT3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  St. Mary's NHS Trust RJ5 0.0 n/a 78 87 
			  West London Mental Health NHS Trust RKL n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  West Middlesex University NHS Trust RFW 21.9 20 66 81 
			  Westminster PCT 5LC n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 Q07 South East London SHA  8.7 64 730 988 
			  Bexley Care Trust TAK n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust RG3 7.6 6 74 90 
			  Bromley PCT 5A7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Greenwich PCT 5A8 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Trust RJ1 9.2 20 204 234 
			  King's College Hospital NHS Trust RJZ 1.0 2 151 198 
			  Lambeth PCT 5LD n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust RJ2 14.2 13 92 127 
			  Lewisham PCT 5LF n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Oxleas NHS Trust RPG n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust RG2 9.3 9 106 178 
			  Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust RGZ 13.2 14 104 161 
			  South East London SHA Q07 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  South London and Maudsley NHS Trust RV5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Southwark PCT 5LE n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 Q08 South West London SHA  10.2 48 468 642 
			  Croydon PCT 5K9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust RVR 2.0 3 163 231 
			  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust RAX 7.3 7 105 162 
			  Kingston PCT 5A5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust RJ6 30.3 38 86 99 
			  Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5M6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust RPY n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust RQY n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  South West London SHA Q08 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust RJ7 0.0 n/a 114 150 
			  Sutton and Merton PCT 5M7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Wandsworth PCT 5LG n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  London Ambulance Service NHS Trust RRU n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 J South East Government Office Region  4.1 109 2,482 3,373 
			
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle Of Wight SHA  1.1 6 542 727 
			  Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT 5G6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East Hampshire PCT 5FD n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT SLY n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Fareham and Gosport PCT 5LX n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust RKD n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Hampshire and Isle Of Wight SHA 017 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Isle Of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust RR2 0.0 n/a 46 68 
			  Isle Of Wight PCT 5DG n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Mid-Hampshire PCT 5E9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  New Forest PCT 5A1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust RN5 0.0 n/a 63 84 
			  North Hampshire PCT 5DF n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Portsmouth City PCT 5FE n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust RHU 0.0 n/a 188 246 
			  Southampton City PCT 5L1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust RHM 2.6 4 172 222 
			  West Hampshire NHS Trust RW1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust RN1 2.5 2 73 107 
			
			 Q18 Kent and Medway SHA  8.0 43 516 700 
			  Ashford PCT 5LL n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Canterbury and Coastal PCT 5LM n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust RN7 0.0 n/a 66 99 
			  Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT 5CM n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East Kent Coastal PCT 5LN n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East Kent Community NHS Trust RTM n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust RVV 6.8 13 180 243 
			  Kent Ambulance NHS Trust RPH n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Kent and Medway SHA Q18 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust RWF 14.5 23 146 210 
			  Maidstone Weald PCT 5L2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Medway NHS Trust RPA 5.4 7 122 147 
			  Medway PCT 5L3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust RPC n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Shepway PCT 5LP n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  South West Kent PCT 5FF n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Swale PCT 5L4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust RXJ n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex SHA  5.4 45 739 1,013 
			  Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT 5L8 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust RTK 9.2 7 65 92 
			  Bexhill and Rother PCT 5FH n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Brighton and Hove City PCT 5LQ n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust RXH 5.6 9 152 197 
			  Crawley PCT 5MA n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT 5KP n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East Surrey PCT 5KQ n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  East Sussex County NHS Trust RXD n/a n/a 0 1 
			  East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust RXC 0.0 n/a 147 205 
			  Eastbourne Downs PCT 5LR n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust RDU 2.1 2 109 153 
			  Guildford and Waverley PCT 5L5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Hastings and St. Leonards PCT 5FJ n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Horsham and Chanctonbury PCT 5MC n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Mid-Sussex PCT 5FK n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North Surrey PCT 5L6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North West Surrey Mental Health NHS Partnership Trust RW7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust RA2 26.5 26 23 27 
			  Royal West Sussex NHS Trust RPR 0.0 n/a 62 94 
			  South Downs Health NHS Trust RDR n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Surrey Ambulance Service NHS Trust RPQ n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust RTP 0.7 1 107 135 
			  Surrey and Sussex SHA Q19 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust RTJ n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust RTN n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust RQ2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 5LT n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust RW8 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Western Sussex PCT 5L9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Woking PCT 5L7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust RPL 0.0 n/a 73 109 
			
			 Q16 Thames Valley SHA  2.1 15 686 933 
			  Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust RWX n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Bracknell Forest PCT 5G2 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust RWT n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust RXQ 1.2 2 124 190 
			  Cherwell Vale PCT 5DV n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Chiltern and South Bucks PCT 5G4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust RD7 11.1 13 96 118 
			  Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust RD8 0.0 92 121 n/a 
			  Milton Keynes PCT 5CQ n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Newbury and Community PCT 5DK n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  North East Oxfordshire PCT 5DT n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Nuffield Orthopaedic NHS Trust RBF n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Oxford City PCT 5DW n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust RTH 0.0 247 322 n/a 
			  Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust RNY n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust RHX n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust RNU n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Reading PCT 5DL n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust RH1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust RHW 0.0 128 182 n/a 
			  Slough PCT 5DM n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  South East Oxfordshire PCT 5DX n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  South West Oxfordshire PCT 5DY n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Thames Valley SHA Q16 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust RHY n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Vale of Aylesbury PCT 5DP n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead PCT 5G3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Wokingham PCT 5DN n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Wycombe PCT 5G5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable.
	(63) September 2003—latest data available for midwife numbers, March 2004—latest vacancy data available
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

NHS Budgets

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the annual percentage increase in total budgets for (a) Kingston Hospital and (b) the NHS in (i) South West London, (ii) London and (iii) England has been in each year since 1992;
	(2)  what the total budgets for (a) Kingston Hospital and (b) the NHS in (i) South West London, (ii) London and (iii) England have been in each year since 1992.

John Hutton: holding answer 20 January 2005
	Information relating to the income of the Kingston Hospital NHS Trust and to total national health service expenditure is shown in the table in cash terms. Figures for London prior to 1996–97 have not been provided as they are not comparable.
	
		
			  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust South West London London Total NHS (England) 
			  Total income (£000) Percentage increase Expenditure (£000) Percentage increase Expenditure (£000) Percentage increase Expenditure (£ billion) Percentage increase 
		
		
			 1991–92 41,902 — — — — — 25.353 13.6 
			 1992–93 45,060 7.5 — — — — 27.968 10.3 
			 1993–94 42,632 -5.4 — — — — 28.942 3.5 
			 1994–95 45,612 7.0 — — — — 30.590 5.7 
			 1995–96 50,659 11.1 — — — — 31.985 4.6 
			 1996–97 54,161 6.9 854,685 — 5,162,461 — 32.997 3.2 
			 1997–98 69,683 28.7 843,672 -1.3 5,008,797 -3.0 34.664 5.1 
			 1998–99 87,878 26.1 910,244 7.9 5,509,058 10.0 36.608 5.6 
			 1999–2000 107,330 22.1 1,076,124 18.2 6,458,945 17.2 40.201 — 
			 2000–01 107,302 0.0 1,156,688 7.5 7,071,988 9.5 43.932 9.3 
			 2001–02 109,951 2.5 1,257,510 8.7 7,799,044 10.3 49.021 11.6 
			 2002–03 131,899 20.0 1,390,747 10.6 8,856,345 13.6 54.042 10.2 
			 2003–04 138,895 5.3 1,495,294 7.5 9,480,299 7.0 63.667 — 
		
	
	Sources:
	Audited summarisation schedules of Kingston Hospital NHS Trust
	Audited accounts of health authorities 1996–97 to 1997–98
	Audited summarisation forms of health authorities 1998–99 to 2001–02
	Audited summarisation forms of strategic health authorities 2002–03 and 2003–04
	Audited summarisation schedules of primary care trusts 2000–01 to 2003–04
	Total net NHS expenditure.
	Comparisons year on year will be affected by the local reconfiguration of NHS bodies and services. These may be explained in accounts published by the individual NHS bodies but not collected centrally.
	Figures for Kingston Hospital NHS Trust show the total income of the trust, including all income from activities and all other operating income, as budget information is not collected centrally.
	Figures for London and South West London are the expenditure by strategic health authorities, predecessor health authorities and primary care trusts within the current five London strategic health authority areas and the South West London strategic health authority area, respectively.
	NHS Expenditure by area is taken from audited health authority accounts and primary care trust summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The expenditure is the total expenditure by the relevant health authorities, and the commissioner costs of the primary care trusts.
	The total NHS expenditure cannot be identified by health authority area because the majority of general dental services expenditure is not included in the individual health authority accounts or primary care trust summarisation schedules and is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. The majority of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by health authorities or primary care trusts.
	Figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04 based on strategic health authority areas have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure, which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare.
	Total NHS expenditure is the total net NHS expenditure for England where expenditure pre 1999–2000 is on a cash basis; expenditure figures from 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are on a stage one resource budgeting basis; expenditure figure for 2003–04 are on a Stage two resource budgeting basis. Figures are not consistent over the full period, hence no comparisons should be made across different periods. The percentage increases for 1999–2000 and 2003–04 have therefore not been provided.

NHS Budgets

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the annual percentage increases in total budgets for (a) Kingston hospital and (b) the NHS in (i) South West London, (ii) London and (iii) England are for (A) 2005–06, (B) 2006–07 and (C) 2007–08;
	(2)  what the projected total budgets for (a) Kingston hospital and (b) the NHS in (i) South West London, (ii) London and (iii) England are for (A) 2005–06, (B) 2006–07 and (C) 2007–08.

John Hutton: holding answer 20 January 2005
	The Department does not allocate funding directly to national health service hospitals. Allocations are made at a primary care trust (PCT) level. Work on 2006–07 and 2007–08 PCT allocations is ongoing. The information requested is shown in the following tables 1 and 2.
	
		Table 1: Primary care trust revenue allocations
		
			  2005–06 
			  £ million Percentage increase 
		
		
			 South West London 2,260 9.3 
			 London 9,105 9.8 
			 England 53,925 9.3 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Total net NHS expenditure
		
			  England (£ million) Percentage increase 
		
		
			 2005–06 76,384 10.1 
			 2006–07 83,818 9.7 
			 2007–08 92,143 9.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Primary care trust allocations are revenue only. Centrally financed services such as Research and Development and training are not included.
	2. Total net NHS expenditure includes both revenue and capital expenditure.

NHS Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people resident in the 20 per cent. most deprived wards are serving as non-executive directors on each NHS trust in the north-west;
	(2)  what progress has been made in appointing more people from Warrington, North to NHS trusts.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 20 January 2005
	This information is not held centrally. The appointment of chairs and non-executive directors to national health service trusts has been delegated to the NHS Appointments Commission. Sir William Wells, chair of the NHS Appointments Commission has been asked to write to my hon. Friend.

NHS University

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he will make to ensure that there is no diminution in the quality of the training provided when the NHS university is replaced by the NHS institute for learning, skills and innovation.

John Hutton: The national health service institute for learning, skills and innovation will integrate and strengthen the way we support people development, service improvement and technical innovation in the NHS. The changes will build on the learning achieved from the best of the NHS university's existing programmes.
	The work of supporting the development of a quality assurance framework for learning in the NHS is undertaken by Skills for Health, the sector skills council for health. This work will continue unchanged.
	Likewise, we remain committed to enhancing skills through the Skills Escalator and through mechanisms such as NHS learning accounts, national vocational qualifications (NVQs), adult literacy, numeracy and language skills (Skills for Life), with £180 million to be invested during the three years from April 2003.
	We have further demonstrated our commitment to improving the learning opportunities for NHS staff through the appointment of Professor Bob Fryer as the new national director for widening participation in learning.

NHS University

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff have participated in NHS university courses since its inception, broken down by subject.

John Hutton: The number of staff who have participated in NHS university courses for the period 16 July 2003 to 11 January 2005 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Course Number of participants 
		
		
			 Advanced Communications in Cancer Care 42 
			 Aggregate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) 57 
			 Child Protection pilot 194 
			 Child Protection roll-out 50 
			 Cleaning Infection Control 562 
			 Clinical Microsystems 45 
			 Customer Care 213 
			 Customer Care Tutor Orientation 273 
			 Disability Awareness Training 141 
			 Estates Upskilling 6 
			 First Contact Care 208 
			 Health Informatics and Assessment Tool 732 
			 Incident Decision Tree (IDT) 6,475 
			 Introduction to Patient Safety e-learning 5,971 
			 Introduction to Today's NHS 4,728 
			 Introduction to Today's NHS Briefings 763 
			 Managing Health and Social Care 1,200 
			 Managing Patient Complaints 56 
			 Managing Patient Complaints Tutor Orientation 8 
			 Modernising Medical Careers 17 
			 Personal Development Review 85 
			 Personal Development Review Tutor Orientation 340 
			 Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Foundation Training 3,326 
			 Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Networked Training 5,153 
			 Secure (Prison Health) 2,000 
			 Seven Steps to Patient Safety 3,018 
			 Statutory Mandatory Skills 441 
			 Ufi/Learn Direct NHS hubs 3,669 
			 Working for the NHS 946 
			 Working for the NHS Tutor Orientation 289 
			 Grand total 41,008

Nursing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives are in place to discourage people from leaving the nursing profession.

John Hutton: There are more qualified nurses working in the national health service than ever before, as at March 2004 there were 396,359 NHS nurses, an increase of 77,500 since 1997.
	There are a wide range of programmes in place to support nurses in the NHS to fulfil their aspirations, to drive forward new ways of working, and to value and respect their contribution to improving patient care. These include a new pay system; the knowledge and skills framework; the NHS child care strategy and "Improving Working Lives".
	"Agenda for Change", the new pay system for non-medical staff in the NHS, provides a unique opportunity for improved career opportunities for NHS staff working across the range of clinical and managerial roles, which in turn will support service redesign and a modernised work force able to deliver a 21st century service for patients. An integral part of "Agenda for Change" is the NHS knowledge and skills framework, which defines and describes the knowledge and skills which individuals need to apply in their work in order to deliver quality services. It provides a single, consistent, comprehensive and explicit framework on which to base the review and career development of all staff.
	The NHS child care strategy is part of the wider "Improving Working Lives" programme, which supports staff, provides a healthy and safe working environment and helps them through a range of flexible working and flexing retirement opportunities manage a healthy work/life balance.

Orthodontists (North-east)

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects vacancies for orthodontists at Sunderland Royal Hospital to be filled; and how long the positions have remained vacant.

John Hutton: This is a matter for the chair of City Hospitals Sunderland National Health Service Foundation Trust. I have written to Mr. David Graham, chair, informing him of my hon. Friend's inquiry.

Ovarian Cancer

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial resources have been made available for research into ovarian cancer in the last five years.

Melanie Johnson: The NHS Plan announced that the Department would provide an additional £20 million per year to establish a national cancer research network. The National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) and the National Translational Cancer Research Network were established as a result. The NCRN is currently providing NHS infrastructural support for 11 trials in ovarian cancer.
	The research costs of these trials are being met by public, private and charity sector funders. The Medical Research Council (MRC) is meeting some or all of the costs of five, including the £8.7 million United Kingdom collaborative trial of ovarian cancer screening.
	The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality, improvement, and service development in the NHS. Research on identifying potentially significant diagnostic factors for ovarian cancer in primary care was commissioned in 2001 and £130,000 has been spent on it.
	Over 75 per cent, of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including more than sixty ovarian cancer research studies, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Paddington Basin Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce the selection of a private finance initiative partner for the Paddington Basin Health Campus project; and which companies are under consideration by his Department for this role.

John Hutton: The outline business case submitted to the Department in December 2004 assumes the appointment of a private finance initiative partner (PFI) to develop the Paddington Health Campus in April 2008 following financial close in a PFI procurement. No companies are being considered by the trusts.

Parking Spaces

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many car parking spaces are provided for those (a) working in and (b) visiting his Department.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has a total of 381 car parking spaces available on its administrative estate for which it is responsible, over half of which are in Leeds.

Patient to Nurse Ratios

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum patient to nurse ratios are; and in which health authorities they apply;
	(2)  what the recommended minimum nurse to patient ratio is in the NHS;
	(3)  what the average patient to nurse ratio was in (a) the London borough of Havering, (b) Greater London and (c) England for each of the last seven years.

John Hutton: Information is not collected on nurse to patient ratios. The table shows the nurse to population ratios for London and England, and the minimum and maximum ratios by strategic health authority.
	There is no recommended minimum nurse to patient ratio, it is for national health service organisations to determine their own work force mix.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff per 1,000 population by strategic health authority as at 30 September 2003
		
			   Nurses per 1,000 population 
		
		
			  England 7.31 
			 Q03 Essex 5.30 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 5.38 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway 5.67 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 5.72 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern  Lincolnshire 6.00 
			 Q28 West Midlands South 6.32 
			 Q24 Trent 6.49 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset 6.58 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire 6.59 
			 Q16 Thames Valley 6.62 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex 6.80 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula 6.84 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 6.99 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 7.18 
			 Q08 South West London 7.39 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 7.41 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 7.44 
			 Q06 North East London 7.61 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 7.68 
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country 8.07 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester 8.17 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside 8.38 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire 8.47 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire 8.55 
			 Q04 North West London 8.57 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 8.94 
			 Q07 South East London 9.21 
			 Q05 North Central London 10.29 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and population figures in the London Government office region by strategic health authority as at 30 September in each specified year
		
			   1997 1998 
			   Population Nursing staff headcount Per 1,000 population Population Nursing staff headcount Per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 England total  48,523,000 300,467 6.1923 48,657,508 304,563 6.2593 
			 London total  7,014,838 62,145 8.8591 7,065,497 50,309 7.1204 
			 North Central London Q05 1,149,942 13,321 11.5841 1,155,673 10,659 9.2232 
			 North East London Q06 1,452,105 11,592 7.9829 1,466,201 8,677 5.9180 
			 North West London Q04 1,688,315 13,989 8.2858 1,702,126 12,238 7.1898 
			 South East London Q07 1,462,845 12,553 8.5812 1,473,553 11,006 7.4690 
			 South West London Q08 1,261,631 10,690 8.4732 1,267,944 7,729 6.0957 
		
	
	
		
			   1999 2000 
			   Population Nursing staff headcount Per 1,000 population Population Nursing staff headcount Per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 England total  48,836,466 310,142 6.3506 48,997,263 316,752 6.4647 
			 London total  7,153,912 51,849 7.2476 7,236,712 51,773 7.1542 
			 North Central London Q05 1,170,479 10,916 9.3261 1,184,723 10,931 9.2266 
			 North East London Q06 1,487,043 8,647 5.8149 1,503,189 8,302 5.5229 
			 North West London Q04 1,727,374 13,009 7.5311 1,754,603 12,697 7.2364 
			 South East London Q07 1,489,508 10,493 7.0446 1,503,332 11,079 7.3696 
			 South West London Q08 1,279,508 8,784 6.8651 1,290,865 8,764 6.7892 
		
	
	
		
			   2001 2002 
			   Population Nursing staff headcount Per 1,000 population Population Nursing staff headcount Per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 England total  49,181,339 330,535 6.7207 49,536,567 346,537 6.9956 
			 London total  7,322,403 55,298 7.5519 7,371,239 59,220 8.0339 
			 North Central London Q05 1,199,952 11,660 9.7171 1,213,768 11,866 9.7762 
			 North East London Q06 1,519,385 9,050 5.9564 1,527,794 9,399 6.1520 
			 North West London Q04 1,783,434 14,525 8.1444 1,806,532 16,426 9.0926 
			 South East London Q07 1,516,855 11,533 7.6032 1,515,226 12,817 8.4588 
			 South West London Q08 1,302,777 8,530 6.5476 1,307,919 8,712 6.6610 
		
	
	
		
			   2003 
			   Population Nursing staff headcount Per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 England total  49,855,740 364,692 7.3149 
			 London total  7,387,868 64,568 8.7397 
			 North Central London Q05 1,220,221 12,631 10.3514 
			 North East London Q06 1,530,792 11,646 7.6078 
			 North West London Q04 1,814,671 16,682 9.1929 
			 South East London Q07 1,511,793 13,930 9.2142 
			 South West London Q08 1,310,391 9,679 7.3863 
		
	
	Note:
	Population numbers are Office for National Statistics estimates.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Police Cells

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a police cell is deemed to be a place of safety for individuals with mental illness; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: In certain circumstances, people who are believed to be suffering from mental disorder may be removed to a place of safety under Part 10 of the Mental Health Act 1983. The Act defines a place of safety for these purposes as including a police station. The identification of a preferred place of safety is a matter for local agreement, but the Mental Health Act Code of Practice states that, as a general rule, it is preferable for a person thought to be suffering from mental disorder to be detained in a hospital rather than a police station.

Primary Care Trusts

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to primary care trusts on providing health services for prisons; and what resources have been provided for this purpose.

Stephen Ladyman: On 1 April 2003, funding responsibility for health services in the publicly run prisons in England was transferred from the Home Office to the Department. From 1 April 2004, at the beginning of a staged process, 18 national health service primary care trusts (PCTs) assumed commissioning responsibility for health services in 34 prisons. By April 2006, that commissioning responsibility will be fully devolved to PCTs and, in some cases, the PCT will also be the health care provider. Prisons and their NHS partners are now expected to work together to determine how best to meet prisoners' health needs. The Government are committing significant additional resources to facilitate the transfer of commissioning responsibility to the NHS. Revenue investment will have risen by over £40 million a year by 2005–06, an increase of more than a third over the 2002–03 baseline. The Prison Service is investing around £20 million a year over the same period to rebuild and refurbish prison health care facilities.
	Policy development advice and support is available from the central prison health team and also the regional prison health leads, whose roles will become integrated in strategic health authorities after 2006. Additionally, there is a learning network, facilitated by the university of Birmingham, where health care staff and PCT commissioners are encouraged to share good practice and participate in learning sets and themed workshops. National and local guidance documents are available on the internet and distributed through local channels.

Prostate Cancer

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his Department's publicity budget for prostate cancer awareness is in the current year; what his Department's expenditure on prostate cancer awareness was in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement;

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of (a) detection, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of prostate cancer;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to increase clinical knowledge of prostate cancer amongst (a) general practitioners and (b) other health professionals;
	(3)  what progress has been made in (a) detection and (b) treatment of prostate cancer since 1997;

Melanie Johnson: The national health service prostate cancer programme was launched in September 2000 and set out the Government's commitment to improve early detection of prostate cancer, to improve treatment and care for prostate cancer patients and to enhance research into prostate cancer. Since the launch, significant progress has been made.
	The prostate cancer risk management programme (PCRMP) has been set up to ensure that all men considering a test for prostate cancer are given information on the benefits, limitations and risks associated with having a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
	We have issued clinical best practice so that PSA testing is performed to an explicit quality standard and that there is a systematic and standardised follow-up for those men with a high PSA level.
	Raising public awareness of prostate cancer is one of the key challenges for the future. We want men to know what their prostate is, what is does and what can go wrong with it. However, we have to raise public awareness in a responsible way so as not to cause undue anxiety and worry.
	Thanks to the work of the prostate cancer advisory group we now have, for the first time, a definitive set of key messages for the general public, which include prostate cancer and in such a way as not to cause unnecessary anxiety.
	The key messages have been agreed by 20 organisations, including charities, patient groups and professional bodies, as well as the Department and can be fed into existing and future communications vehicles or as stand alone messages.
	We have provided funding for the following organisations to increase public awareness of prostate cancer:
	In 2003–04 we provided £30,000 to the Men's Health Forum to help fund its publication, the Men and Cancer manual.
	We have provided £135,000 to the Prostate Cancer Charity to increase available information about prostate cancer.
	We are providing £105,000 to the Prostate Cancer Charity to improve awareness of the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer in African and Afro-Caribbean men in Britain.
	We are working with the voluntary sector to develop a national prostate cancer website and have provided £100,000 of funding. It is expected that the website will be launched this summer.
	We are also working to both increase and improve clinical knowledge of prostate cancer. In April 2000, we published referral guidelines for suspected cancer to help general practitioners identify those patients who are most likely to have cancer and who therefore require urgent assessment by a specialist. The guidelines included a section on prostate cancer.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing this guidance and an update is due to be published in 2005.
	The PCRMP has produced a booklet, called, The PSA test and prostate cancer: Information for primary care. This booklet provides GPs with an easy reference source on prostate cancer, from risk factors to treatment. The booklet was produced after consultation with GPs, primary care cancer leads and an expert advisory group.
	In September 2002, NICE published guidance on urological cancers, including prostate cancer. This guidance covers all aspects of cancer care for urological cancer patients and is aimed at helping all of those involved in planning, commissioning, organising and providing cancer services to ensure high quality services.
	As well as this guidance NICE is developing guidelines for the clinical management of prostate cancer and an overview of brachytherapy as an interventional procedure for prostate cancer. NICE is also appraising two prostate cancer drugs, Docetaxel and Atrasentan.
	The cancer services collaborative has been working with urology teams across the country to improve access to care and to streamline the delivery of care.
	We have also increased twenty-fold research funding for prostate cancer since 1999–2000; from £200,000 to £4.2million for 2003–04. This level of funding will be maintained, subject to the quality of research proposals.

Smoking

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list the organisations and individuals from whom representations on the displacement of smoking from public places to homes as a result of legislation restricting smoking in public places were received during the preparation of the Public Health White Paper;
	(2)  what research his Department has collated on the possible displacement of smoking from public places to homes, as a result of legislation restricting smoking in public places;
	(3)  what research he has commissioned on the possible displacement of smoking from public places and workplaces as a result of legislation restricting smoking in such places;
	(4)  what assessment has been made of the effect of exempting from restrictions on smoking in public places/pubs which do not serve prepared food would have on displacing smoking from public places to homes.

Melanie Johnson: The proposals for legislation set out in the White Paper "Choosing Health—Making Healthy choices easier" to shift the balance in favour of smoke-free enclosed public places and workplaces were based on the scientific evidence of harm from second hand smoke and the views from the public. In preparation of the proposals, we took full account of the latest scientific and medical evidence of the risk to health from exposure to second hand smoke, as set out in the report from the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health, which was published alongside the White Paper. Many of the studies covered look at the effects on non-smokers of living with smokers.
	We took full account of the views of the public, as expressed in over 150,000 responses to the public consultation on public health, in preparing our proposals. While protecting the right of the majority to go out for a meal or a drink without damage, inconvenience or pollution from second hand smoke, the proposals also provide a degree of choice for the minority. We believe that this is a sensible solution that balances the protection of the majority with the personal freedom of the minority in England.
	We have made an assessment of the impact that smoking in public places would have in a reduction in smoking prevalence, which would thereby have a beneficial impact of reducing smoke at home. We will continue to act on the issue of second hand smoke in the home and have already taken action through the hard hitting campaign launched last year depicting the dangers of smoking around babies and children.

Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision for mental health training is included in the new degree course for social workers.

Stephen Ladyman: The social work degree is a generic degree based on a prescribed curriculum. Training providers must ensure that students undertake specific learning in a number of key areas. As part of their learning and assessment, students receive training on mental health matters in the human growth and development element of their degree. This forms a key element of the prescribed curriculum, which is also based on the National Occupation Standards for Social Work, in England, developed by Topss England. Mental health matters are covered in some detail in these standards.
	On qualification, there are opportunities for further training in specialist areas. As part of the reform of the social work education, the General Social Care Council is undertaking a review of the current framework for post-qualifying training for social work.

Trust Financial Shortfalls

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely financial shortfall of (a) NHS Plymouth Hospital Trust and (b) Plymouth Primary Care Trust at 31 March; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: In line with shifting the balance of power, strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for the financial performance management of individual health organisations within their health economy.
	The latest information published by the South West Peninsula SHA shows that the 2004–05 forecast outturn position for Plymouth Hospitals national health service trust is a deficit of £6.2 million. The 2004–05 forecast outturn position for Plymouth Primary Care Trust is that they will achieve financial balance.

Tuberculosis

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources he plans to devote to information and education campaigns in relation to tuberculosis in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Melanie Johnson: The Department is currently funding a joint campaign with the charity, TB Alert, targeted at raising awareness of tuberculosis among health professions and the public. This media campaign will launch this spring and the Department will resource a continuing media campaign throughout 2005.

Waiting List Deaths

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons died while on a waiting list for (a) an in-patient and (b) an out-patient appointment in England in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: This information is not collected centrally.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Abandoned Vehicles (Morecambe Bay)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) Lancaster city council and (b) South Lakeland district council have responsibility for the removal of abandoned vehicles on the sands of Morecambe Bay.

Keith Hill: Under Section 3(1) of the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978, local authorities are under a duty to remove vehicles that are abandoned in their area on any land in the open air or on any other land forming part of a highway. However, under Section 3(3) of the same Act, local authorities are absolved of this duty regarding vehicles that are situated otherwise than on a carriageway if it appears to them that the cost of removing them to the nearest convenient carriageway would be unreasonably high.

Anti-social Behaviour Act

Paul Tyler: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he intends to publish guidance to local authorities on implementation of Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to issue guidance for local authorities at the same time as the Regulations to bring Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 into force are laid before Parliament. We expect the complaints system to be fully operational early this year.

Consultation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines he issues on periods appropriate for consultation on major documents; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister follows the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation which can be found at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/docs/consultation/pdf/code.pdf

Council Housing

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total income in capital receipts was from the sale of council housing under the right-to-buy in each year between 1997–98 and 2002–03, broken down by Government Office region.

Keith Hill: Figures for the estimated right-to-buy receipts (based on the selling price net of discount) for 1997–98 to 2002–03 by Government Office region are tabled as follows:
	
		Right-to-buy receipts (£ million)
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 North East 56.8 48.0 69.7 76.9 65.3 109.8 
			 North West 74.0 69.4 89.6 105.0 120.1 168.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 70.9 75.8 96.1 102.3 145.0 225.3 
			 East Midlands 62.4 64.3 92.3 100.0 120.4 173.6 
			 West Midlands 104.4 101.4 144.3 144.3 160.4 236.3 
			 East 130.1 119.2 203.2 190.4 187.8 247.8 
			 London 192.5 233.0 380.3 455.5 509.1 720.3 
			 South East 128.8 125.8 212.4 169.7 172.5 241.6 
			 South West 69.8 70.4 86.9 86.9 87.2 120.7 
			 England 889.8 907.4 1,374.8 1,430.8 1,567.6 2,243.6

Council Tax (Bexley)

Derek Conway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the discussions between his Department and Bexley borough council on the level of council tax increases.

Nick Raynsford: I wrote to all local authority Leaders on 9 December making it clear that the Government expect all local authorities to budget prudently in 2005–06 and that the average council tax increase in England should be less than 5 per cent. I also said that the Government are prepared to take tougher capping action than we did in 2004–05 to deal with excessive budgets.
	The Leader of Bexley borough council will have received this letter along with all other authorities.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Department on (a) indoor bought plants, (b) indoor hired plants, (c) outdoor bought plants and (d) outdoor hired plants in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. Since that date the following has been spent on the provision and maintenance of indoor and outdoor plants. The figures include VAT.
	
		
			  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Government Office Network 
		
		
			 May 2002 to March 2003   
			 (a) Indoor hired and maintained 16,300 38,100 
			 (b) Indoor bought 6,600 0 
			 (c) Outdoor hired and maintained 0 200 
			 (d) Outdoor bought 20 0 
			   
			 April 2003 to March 2004   
			 (a) Indoor hired and maintained 17,800 32,200 
			 (b) Indoor bought 80 22,700 
			 (c) Outdoor hired and maintained 0 766 
			 (d) Outdoor bought 0 1,800 
			
			 April to November 2004   
			 (a) Indoor hired and maintained 15,200 32,800 
			 (b) Indoor bought 4,000 20,000 
			 (c) Outdoor hired and maintained 0 800 
			 (d) Outdoor bought 0 300 
		
	
	All expenditure incurred in the purchase and procurement of these services and items has been made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
	Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.
	The information for agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many (a) actions, (b) settlements and (c) court cases there were in each year; and what the costs were of each settlement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister came into existence from May 2002. The information listed in following table provides the expenditure related to litigation cases worked on in year by the Treasury Solicitor's Department on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	
		
			  Financial year 
			   2002–03  2003–04 2004–05 April to December 
		
		
			 Number of litigation cases worked on in year by the Treasury Solicitor' s Department on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 385 412 343 
			 Costs paid by the Office of the Deputy to the Treasury Solicitor's Department (£ million) 1.02 1.26 0.74 
		
	
	To provide a breakdown of expenditure exactly as requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of his Department's staff is based in London.

Yvette Cooper: Information on regional distribution of staff is available in the Libraries of both Houses, and also at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ information/statistical_information/statistics/contents_ for_civil_service_statistics_2003_report/index.asp
	Table D shows the numbers of staff by regional distribution.
	Figures relating to 1 April 2004 are due to be published during February 2005.

Development Plans (South-West England)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the proposal by the South West Regional Assembly that up to 30,000 houses should be built on green belt land between Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware that a consultation exercise is currently being carried out in Gloucestershire, seeking views on technical work that has been undertaken on behalf of the Regional Assembly by a Steering Group led by the county council. We are also aware that the consultation document does not contain proposals but seeks views on this technical work and the possible implications of different levels of housing growth in the Gloucester and Cheltenham area. This work and the views of local people will help the Regional Assembly to prepare a draft Regional Spatial Strategy that will be submitted to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister at the end of this year.

Development Plans (South-West England)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what instructions he gave the South West Regional Assembly regarding the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West; and if he will instruct the Assembly to extend the consultation period on its proposals for Gloucestershire to at least three months.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's policies on the preparation of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) are set out in Planning Policy Statement 11, which was issued in 2004. Those policies must be taken into account by Regional Planning Bodies, including the South West Regional Assembly, in preparing their RSS. We have given no specific instructions to the South West Regional Assembly, separate from those policies. I understand that a consultation exercise is currently being carried out in Gloucestershire, seeking views on technical work that has been undertaken on behalf of the Regional Assembly by a Steering Group led by the County Council. The consultation period runs from 17 January to 18 February 2005. This is entirely a matter for the Regional Assembly and its local partners and it would be inappropriate for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to intervene.

Development Plans (South-West England)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost has been to (a) each of the six local district authorities in Gloucestershire in preparation of current local plans and (b) Gloucestershire county council in the preparation of its current Structure Plan.

Keith Hill: The Government do not monitor the costs incurred in preparing local and structure plans by individual authorities. The number of factors affecting the final cost of plan production will differ greatly between authorities, based upon for example, the development issues affecting the area, consultation processes, printing costs, number of representations received, length of inquiry, legal costs, and staff overheads.

Fire Service

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding the availability of life insurance for firefighters.

Nick Raynsford: The Fire Brigades Union have made representations to my right hon.. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister about life insurance cover in connection with terrorist incidents and was able to inform the General Secretary that assurance had been given by the Association of British Insurers that most life insurance policies have no terrorist exclusions.
	Subsequently the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received correspondence from the President of Chief Fire Officers' Association and from the Fire Officers' Association. This is in addition to correspondence from a small number of fire and rescue services and five letters from MPs expressing the concerns of their constituents.

Flood Plains (Development)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what studies (a) the Government Office for the South West and (b) his Department has commissioned into the effect upon the flood-plain in Gloucestershire near Cheltenham and Gloucester of development near the flood-plain.

Keith Hill: The Environment Agency has the lead role in providing advice on flood issues, at a strategic level and in relation to planning applications. In October 2004 the Environment Agency published the new Flood Map and Flood Zones data, which covers the whole of England and provides information on the extent of flood risk areas and the location and implications of flood defence provisions.
	The Government's policy on development in flood-plains, contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25, is to reduce the risks to people and the developed and natural environment from flooding and it looks to local planning authorities to ensure that flood risk is properly taken into account in the planning of developments to reduce the risk of flooding.

Flood Plains (Development)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to prohibit the use of domestic oil tanks and oil heating systems in flood plains and coastal areas which are at risk from flooding in respect of (a) new housing and (b) existing housing; and what representations he has received from the Environment Agency concerning this issue.

Phil Hope: There are currently no plans to prohibit the use of oil tanks and oil heating systems in areas which are at risk from flooding and, to date, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received no representations from the Environment Agency concerning this issue.

Housing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will provide a breakdown of the Low Cost Home Ownership units planned for Southwark in the Housing Corporation's 2004–06 Approved Development programme by (a) one-bed, (b) two-bed, (c) three-bed and (d) four-bed or more;
	(2)  if he will provide a breakdown of the Low Cost Home Ownership units planned for Southwark in the Housing Corporation's 2004–06 Approved Development Programme by (a) conventional shared ownership, (b) key worker shared ownership, (c) Homebuy and (d) other forms of low cost home ownership.

Keith Hill: A table with the breakdown of Low Cost Home Ownership by type and by bedroom numbers for 2004–06 for all London boroughs has been made available in the Library of the House.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total amount of capital receipts from shared owners staircasing up their equity share in 2003–04 was; and how many units were involved.

Keith Hill: In 2003–04 a total of £65.5 million was credited to the recycled capital grant fund (RCGF) in respect of shared owners staircasing up their equity share. This involved a total of 3,551 dwellings.

Housing Benefit

Mark Fisher: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what proportion of (a) council tenants, (b) housing association tenants and (c) tenants in the private sector in Stoke-on-Trent receive housing benefit.

Keith Hill: A table with the percentage of housing association tenants for local authority areas in England has been made available in the Library of the House. Comparable data for local authority tenants and tenants in the private sector are not available centrally.

Leasehold Reform Act

Tony Colman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to amend section 29 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 dealing with restrictive covenants.

Keith Hill: The Government have no current plans to amend section 29 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

Leasehold Reform Act

Tony Colman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce an arbitration scheme for cases in which a freeholder disputes the level of premium charged by a local authority, exercising its legal right to do so, for a release under section 29 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 covenant.

Keith Hill: No.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) specific, (b) special and (c) non-ring-fenced grants that the Government has allocated to local authorities in 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: The following table lists all grants allocated to local authorities in England in 2004–05 within Aggregate External Finance (AEF) in addition to Revenue Support Grant, National Non-Domestic Rates and Police Grant. There are other grants outside AEF but these are not provided for an authority's core services and relate, in the main, to areas of funding which are passed on by local authorities, such as Mandatory Student Awards.
	
		
			  Amount (£ million) Ring-fenced 
		
		
			 Grants made under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003: 
			 Excellence in Cities 260.6 No 
			 Choice Protects 33.0 Yes 
			 Adoption Support and Special Guardianship 23.0 Yes 
			 Safeguarding Children 100.0 No 
			 Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation 32.4 Yes 
			 Change Fund 7.0 No 
			 Waste Re-Cycling Challenge 90.0 Yes 
			 Waste Targeted Grant 20.0 No 
			 Fire Transitional Funding 28.3 Yes 
			 Fire Pay Verification 0.8 Yes 
			 Planning Delivery 130.0 No 
			 Supporting People Administration 48.1 No 
			 Rural Bus Subsidy 51.0 No 
			 Rural Bus Challenge 20.0 Yes 
			 Urban Bus Challenge 16.0 Yes 
			 Homelessness Strategies 45.4 No 
			 Private Finance Initiative 415.0 No 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 450.0 No 
			 LPSA Reward Grant(64) 101.0 No 
			 Grants made under other specific powers:   
			 Standards Fund 1306.8 Yes 
			 Sure Start General Grant 461.0 Yes 
			 Teachers' Pay Reform 825.6 Yes 
			 Leadership Incentive 193.6 Yes 
			 Education Action Zones 37.4 Yes 
			 Transitional Support 118.0 Yes 
			 School Standards 859.1 N/A 
			 UASC Leaving Care 12.0 Yes 
			 Carers Grant 125.0 No 
			 Training Support 53.3 No 
			 National Training Strategy 31.0 No 
			 Preserved Rights 458.3 No 
			 Treatment Foster Care 3.0 Yes 
			 Children's Trusts 3.2 Yes 
			 Regional Development Workers 1.0 Yes 
			 Human Resources Development Strategy 23.9 No 
			 Access and Systems Capacity 486.0 No 
			 Children and Adolescent Mental Health 66.0 Yes 
			 Young People's Substance Misuse Planning 4.5 Yes 
			 Mental Health 133.0 Yes 
			 AIDS Support 16.5 Yes 
			 Delayed Discharge 100.0 No 
			 Crime Fighting Fund 267.0 Yes 
			 Rural Policing Fund 26.0 No 
			 Neighbourhood Policing Fund 12.0 Yes 
			 Occupational Health 4.7 No 
			 Police Negotiating Board 48.0 Yes 
			 DNA 50.0 Yes 
			 Basic Command Units 48.0 Yes 
			 London and South East Allowances 49.0 No 
			 London Travel 3.0 No 
			 Community Support Officers 39.0 Yes 
			 Special Constables 6.6 Yes 
			 Street Crime Initiative 25.0 Yes 
			 Reform Deal 4.7 Yes 
			 National Intelligence Model 3.7 Yes 
			 Counter Terrorism 83.0 Yes 
			 Airwave Communication Project 6.6 Yes 
			 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit  administration 331.7 No 
			 Performance Standards Fund 70.0 No 
			 Civil Defence 19.0 Yes 
			 Probation Loan Charges 3.0 Yes 
			 Neighbourhood Wardens 19.0 Yes 
			 Supporting People 1807.0 Yes 
			 Magistrates' Courts 371.9 No 
			 Detrunking 33.3 No 
			 Beacons 5.0 No 
			 Community Cohesion Pathfinder 0.4 Yes 
			 GLA General Grant 36.3 No 
		
	
	(64) LPSA Reward Grant—this is the maximum provision as specified in individual councils LPSAs, and "allocations" will depend on performance. This is the revenue element of the grant, the other £101 million being capital.

Minerals Planning Guidance No. 3

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the operation of Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Coal Producers Federation (COALPRO) has made representations to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister about Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 "Coal mining and colliery spoil disposal". It suggested that the test of the circumstances within which it is appropriate to permit opencast coal applications in paragraph 8 of MPG3 has sometimes been misinterpreted and that this has contributed to the significant decrease in new planning permissions for open cast coal extraction in England in recent years. It also considered that policies in some draft Regional Planning Guidance and local planning documents prepared by Minerals Planning Authorities do not accord with that national guidance, for example by applying a double test of environmental acceptability and local community benefits whereas these are specified as alternatives in MPG3. On careful reading, the meaning of this paragraph should be clear, and at present there are no plans to review MPG3. However officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, together with those in the relevant Government Offices, will continue to examine and comment on regional and local planning documents to help ensure that these conform to national policy on this and other matters dealt with in MPG3.

Mobile Network (Code of Best Practice)

Richard Spring: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects his Department to complete the study of the effectiveness of the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned the University of Reading and Arup to undertake a study to assess the impact that the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development has had since its introduction. We expect their work to conclude at the end of March.

New Dimension Programme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the management structure of the Department's New Dimension programme is; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The New Dimension programme is managed in accordance with the Office of Central Government Commerce (OGC) guidelines. As required by OGC for programmes of this size and profile, the Senior Responsible Officer is a Grade 3 Civil Servant and I am the named responsible Minister. The New Dimension programme is part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Fire Resilience Programme, which is overseen at Director General (Grade 2) level.
	New Dimension is part of the Government's overall civil contingencies programme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently investing £188 million of resources in the fire and rescue service on mass decontamination equipment, urban search and rescue equipment and high volume water pumps. The programme is currently developing on budget, on time and to high quality standards.

Open Cast Coal Mines

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many open cast coal mining planning applications were made in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many approvals were granted (a) by local planning authorities and (b) on appeal in each of those years; and what tonnage was approved for extraction in each of those years.

Keith Hill: Figures for the years 1991–92 to 2000–01 are tabled. Figures for subsequent years are available only with respect to approvals on appeal or call-in and for the calendar year 2003.
	
		
			  Number of applications made Approvals by local planning authorities Approvals on appeal or call-in Tonnage approved for extraction (Thousand) 
		
		
			 1991–92 59 31 9 5,812 
			 1992–93 57 32 7 7,106 
			 1993–94 56 23 6 7,217 
			 1994–95 32 12 5 5,584 
			 1995–96 40 24 0 2,717 
			 1996–97 39 24 2 7,269 
			 1997–98 27 14 0 2,103 
			 1998–99 25 15 1 5,836 
			 1999–00 12 4 1 1,384 
			 2000–01 10 7 1 1,285 
			 2001–02 n/a n/a 0 n/a 
			 2003 7 5 0 2,351 
			 2004 n/a n/a 0 n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not applicable
	Source:
	1991–92 to 2000–01 figures are derived from "Opencast Coalmining Statistics" (a Planning Officers' Society Publication). Figures for the calendar year 2003 are derived from "Opencast Coal Mining Statistics" produced by the British Geological Survey.

Organic Waste Disposal

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the farming of worms in connection with the business of organic waste disposal is regarded as an agricultural activity for planning purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Section 336 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 defines "agriculture" as including, among a number of specific activities:
	"horticulture, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock (including any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur, or for the purpose of its use in the farming of land), the use of land as grazing land, market gardens and nursery grounds."
	In the first instance it is for local planning authorities to determine the status, for planning purposes, of particular developments and activities.
	It may ultimately fall to the courts to interpret and decide such matters.

Pay Television Subscriptions

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many pay television subscriptions the Department had in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. Complete data is not held on the number or cost of cable and satellite subscriptions held in 2002–03.
	In 2003–04, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had cable and satellite service in five of its buildings. Two of these were provided at no cost and three were base package satellite/cable services provided at a cost of £21,310 including VAT.
	Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of ten Government Departments.

Police Funding

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to provide additional grant to (a) Hampshire police authority and (b) other police authorities who lost grant as a result of errors in calculating the 2001 population.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has always been clear that we would issue an Amending Report for the 2003–04 settlement to incorporate the revised 2001 population estimates. It is only fair that authorities should receive the correct amount of grant relative to the updated population estimates. Indeed, we consulted on options for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 Amending Reports during the previous summer.
	However, it is not possible for authorities that receive less grant under the Amending Report than they did under the original Local Government Finance Report to reopen their budgets for 2003–04. For this reason we will pay, or recover, any changes in 2003–04 grant amounts during 2005–06; and we have proposed amending the floor damping scheme for 2005–06 to ensure that all authorities should receive at least the floor increase in their formula grant after paying back any money owed under the 2003–04 Amending Report.
	Under the provisional 2005–06 settlement, Hampshire police authority will receive a year-on-year increase of 3.75 per cent. on a like-for-like basis net of the effects of the 2003–04 Amending Report.

PPG 3

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many representations he has received from (a) individual local authorities and (b) others concerning the delay in publishing the updated version of Planning Policy Guidance Note 3; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects to publish the revised version of Planning Policy Guidance Note 3; and what the reasons are for the delay.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published in July 2003 two consultation updates to Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing (PPG3) entitled 'Influencing the Size, Type and Affordability of Housing', and 'Supporting the Delivery of New Housing'.
	In the 'Planning for Housing' statement made to the House on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 3WS, the publication of two updates to PPG3, entitled 'Supporting the Delivery of New Housing' and 'Planning for Sustainable Communities in Rural Area' was announced. These relate respectively to new policies on the re-use of unneeded employment land where it is needed and suitable for housing, and the provision of affordable housing in rural areas (the latter forming part of the consultation update 'Influencing the Size, Type and Affordability of Housing').
	In the 'Planning for Mixed Communities' statement also made to the House on 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 1WS, the publication of a consultation update to PPG3, entitled 'Planning for Mixed Communities' was announced. It proposes a revised approach to planning for a mix of housing to that which was set out in 'Influencing the Size, Type and Affordability of Housing'. The consultation period for responses closes on 15 April 2005.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has considered the responses it received during the consultation period and has since held extensive discussions with key stakeholders, in particular on the approach to the mix of housing set out in 'Influencing the Size, Type and Affordability'. The 'Planning for Mixed Communities' statement explains why the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is re-consulting. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not received any representations concerning the delay in publishing the updated version of PPG3.

Regional Housing Boards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the role of the regional housing boards is in relation to (a) social housing and (b) Travellers.

Keith Hill: The Boards were established as part of a dynamic and more strategic approach towards addressing housing and other associated problems. They recommend to Ministers how resources for housing capital investment is best targeted to address regional and national priorities, and to address the needs of all groups.
	These recommendations are made on the back of Regional Housing Strategies, which the Boards produce, and which cover all tenures, including social housing, and groups with different housing needs, including Travellers. The resources are used to increase the supply of social housing, to ensure that existing social housing meets the decent homes standard, and to provide sites for Travellers.

Right to Buy

Peter Pike: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent changes have been implemented to the (a) right-to-buy and (b) right to acquire regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Housing Act 2004, which received Royal Assent on 18 November 2004, makes a number of changes to the Right to Buy scheme set out in Part V of the Housing Act 1985. It:
	extends the initial qualification period from two years to five years for new tenants, although they will then qualify for the same amount of discount as under the current rules—i.e. after the five years, 35 per cent. for a house or 50 per cent. for a flat
	extends the period after sale during which landlords may require owners to repay some or all of their discount on early resale, from three years to five years
	makes it clear that landlords have discretion to waive repayment of discount, to address cases where repayment could involve genuine hardship (the Government will issue guidance on this)
	requires the amount of discount repaid to be a percentage of the resale value of the property (less the value of any improvements made by the owner since exercising their Right to Buy) rather than the current flat rate basis
	shortens from 12 months to three months the period after which a landlord may serve on a tenant a 'first notice to complete'
	allows landlords to suspend the Right to Buy for up to five years on dwellings scheduled for demolition, or to exempt such dwellings from the Right to Buy altogether if they are due to be demolished within two years
	requires tenants who agree to resell their homes to companies within the discount repayment period (a 'deferred resale agreement') to repay some or all of their Right to Buy discount
	requires owners who wish to resell properties within 10 years of their being sold under the Right to Buy to offer them back to a local social landlord (the local authority or a registered social landlord) at market value. Landlords have always been able to do this for properties in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, and areas designated as 'rural' for this purpose, of which there are now 35. The Act extends this power to other areas. The Government will specify procedures and timescales in regulations, which will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible
	requires landlords to give their tenants information on the costs and responsibilities of home ownership. The Government will specify the matters on which information is to given in an order, which will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible
	enables landlords of secure tenants to seek an order suspending the right to buy for a specified period in respect of the tenancy on the grounds of anti-social behaviour
	ends the little-used Rent to Mortgage scheme from 18 July 2005 (eight months after Royal Assent)
	transfers jurisdiction over appeals by tenants denied the Right to Buy on the grounds that their homes are particularly suitable for occupation by elderly persons from the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, to residential property tribunals in England. This will take place on a date to be determined by the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, which is likely to be in the spring of 2005.
	All these changes except the last three came into effect on 18 January 2005. Mostly, they do not affect applications for the Right to Buy made before that date, apart from the following:
	the extended qualification period does not apply to existing tenants
	landlords have been given discretion to waive the repayment of discount in respect of disposals which take place after 18 January
	provisions relating to deferred resale agreements apply to any agreements made after 18 January
	information for tenants will be provided to all tenants regardless of whether an application has been made for the Right to Buy or not; and
	the transfer of jurisdiction for elderly exclusion appeals will be dependent upon the date of the appeal rather than the date of the Right to Buy application.
	The changes automatically apply to the Preserved Right to Buy (available to tenants transferred with their homes from local authorities to registered social landlords, mainly under large-scale voluntary transfer arrangements) (see section 171C of the Housing Act 1985), also and, with the exception of the last two, to the Right to Acquire scheme (see section 17 of the Housing Act 1996). Provision has to be made to continue orders suspending the Right to Buy because of antisocial behaviour in cases where the tenant ceases to be a secure tenant, but has a Preserved Right to Buy or the Right to Acquire, so that their right to purchase their home is still suspended.
	The Preserved Right to Buy regulations and the Right to Acquire regulations will be replaced with new regulations which reflect these changes. These will be made and laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

Social Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many units of affordable housing for (a) rent and (b) sale were built with funding generated by recycled capital grant in 2003–04; and how many existing social housing units were refurbished with recycled capital grant funding.

Keith Hill: In 2003–04, 464 homes for rent, 436 homes for sale and 1,769 refurbished dwellings of Registered Social Landlords (RSL) stock were provided through recycled capital grant fund (RCGF).

Social Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much recycled capital grant was spent by registered social landlords to fund investment in refurbishment to bring existing stock up to the Decent Homes Standard in each year since 1997;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the use of recycled capital grant by registered social landlords to fund investment in bringing existing stock up to the Decent Homes Standard rather than building new affordable housing.

Keith Hill: Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) can spend or commit recycled capital grant to projects that would be eligible for Social Housing Grant (SHG) within three years of the receipts being received or repay the grant to the Housing Corporation. For example, the recycled grant can be used to fund new dwellings and major repairs.
	The Housing Corporation collects data on the extent of re-improvements and major repairs to RSL stock funded through the Recycled Capital Grant Fund (RCGF). The following table shows the total from the RCGF used in respect of re-improvements and major repairs to RSL stock between 1997–98 and 2003–04.
	
		Total RCGF withdrawals for re-improvements and major repairs
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 0.000 
			 1998–99 0.372 
			 1999–2000 1.888 
			 2000–01 16.575 
			 2001–02 25.100 
			 2002–03 30.818 
			 2003–04 35.232 
			 Total 109.985

Supporting People Programme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what formula was used for the outline allocation for the 2005–06 Supporting People programme; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Supporting People grant allocations in 2005–06 have been informed by the use of a needs based distribution formula which aims to ensure that funding better reflects relative need.
	The new Supporting People distribution formula was specifically developed for the Supporting People programme and takes into account levels of deprivation, population and social economic factors within an authority.
	Detailed information on the formula and its use is available on the Supporting People web site at: http://www.spkweb.org.uk/Subjects/Finance/Distribution_formula/

Use Class Orders

Jim Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans (a) to finalise and (b) to publish changes to the Use Class Orders for Use Class 'A'.

Keith Hill: The amendments to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (the UCO) will take the form of two statutory instruments, one amending the UCO itself; the other amending the General Permitted Development Order. The statutory instruments have been finalised and will be published very shortly.

Voting Rights (Foreign Nationals)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the UK residency requirements are to vote in local elections; and if he will make a statement on the eligibility of (a) citizens from the European Union, who are not UK or Irish citizens and (b) non-EU migrants with a right to remain, to vote in local elections in the UK.

Nick Raynsford: Under Section 4(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (the 1983 Act) a person is entitled to be registered in the register of local government electors for any electoral area if on the relevant date he is resident in the area and satisfies other criteria on legal capacity, age and citizenship. Registration, along with the satisfaction of other criteria, brings with it the right to vote in local elections in that area.
	(a) Such citizens of the European Union member states resident in the UK have been eligible to register and to vote in local government elections in the UK since 1996. This is as a result of the UK Government applying the European Council Directive 94/80/EC which allows EU nationals to vote and stand in local government elections of the member states they are resident in.
	(b) Non-EU migrants who have a right to remain on the UK are not eligible to register and vote in UK local government elections, unless they are also qualifying Commonwealth citizens.